Coach Mike Tomlin often says, “One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity.” This was the case during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Will Howard suffered a broken right pinkie finger, which gave Skylar Thompson the chance to step in as quarterback.
Thompson led the offense in six of its nine possessions. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 233 yards, threw three touchdowns with no interceptions, and achieved a passer rating of 132.0. Under his leadership, the team scored three touchdowns and a field goal and converted six out of nine third downs. The Steelers won the game 31-25.
Thompson has been named Steelers Digest Player of the Week.
Other players considered for this recognition included Mason Rudolph, who started at quarterback and completed nine of ten passes for 84 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions, earning a rating of 135.0; wide receiver Ke’Shawn Williams, who caught two passes for 55 yards including a key fourth-quarter touchdown and added a punt return; wide receiver Max Hurleman, who had two catches for 29 yards and a touchdown plus a special teams tackle; running back Trey Sermon, who contributed both on offense and special teams; cornerback Beanie Bishop with five tackles and a pass defensed; inside linebacker Carson Bruener with four tackles plus three on special teams; and cornerback Daryl Porter Jr., whose late-game tackle helped secure the win by keeping an opponent in bounds as time expired.
