Yahya Black, a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been named the Steelers Digest Player of the Week following his performance in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers. Black, who was selected as the 164th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, recorded five tackles—two of which were sacks—and forced a fumble during the team’s 19-10 win.
Despite not being in a position where he needed to secure his roster spot with a standout showing, Black made significant contributions on defense. The game marked an opportunity for several players to make their case for inclusion on the final 53-man roster.
Other notable performances included quarterback Skylar Thompson, who completed 11 of 13 passes for 152 yards and one touchdown without any interceptions. Wide receiver Lance McCutcheon caught three passes totaling 52 yards and scored a touchdown on a 24-yard reception. Outside linebacker Jack Sawyer contributed four tackles, including two tackles for loss and a quarterback hit.
Wide receiver Scotty Miller had three receptions for 82 yards; his longest catch set up a field goal just before halftime that tied the score at ten points each. Cornerback James Pierre recorded one tackle and an interception in the end zone. Kicker Ben Sauls converted field goals from distances of 38, 50, 49, and 28 yards.
Running back Trey Sermon gained 39 rushing yards on four carries—an average of nearly ten yards per carry—and added three catches for another fourteen yards. Inside linebackers Mark Robinson and Carson Bruener also stood out: Robinson had three tackles along with both a forced fumble and fumble recovery; Bruener tallied five defensive tackles plus two more on special teams.
