Full Breakdown
Steelers’ Young QBs Stumble as Jets Shut Out Preseason Opponents
8/23/2026, 11:26:19 AM
Game Summary
On August 21, 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers were held scoreless in a 17-0 preseason loss to the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers fielded rookie quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar for the entire contest, while the Jets used veteran Geno Smith for a single drive and rookie Cade Klubnik for the remainder. The Jets’ defense recorded two interceptions of Howard—one by safety Andre Cisco and another by cornerback Samuel Womack—marking the franchise’s first preseason shutout since 2016.
Player Performance Data
| Player | Completion/Attempts | Yards | TD | INT | Sacks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Will Howard (PIT) | 10/15 | 74 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Drew Allar (PIT) | 11/23 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Cade Klubnik (NYJ) | 10/14 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Geno Smith (NYJ) | 7/7 | 65 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The Steelers’ offensive line allowed four sacks. Wide receiver Roman Wilson was the target on both of Howard’s interceptions. Allar’s third-quarter 38-yard pass to Lake McRee was Pittsburgh’s longest completion.
Coaching Evaluations
The Steelers’ defensive coordinator Patrick Graham received praise for his unit’s performance, with safety DeShon Elliott (93.6) and linebackers Carson Bruener (91.4) and Elandon Roberts (83.0) earning high PFF grades.
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn highlighted the efficiency of Smith’s opening drive and the overall quality of his defense, stating the unit “played fairly well” for a second consecutive week.
Defensive Highlights
The Jets forced three three-and-outs and limited Pittsburgh to 14 yards inside the 20-yard line before the first interception. Safety Andre Cisco intercepted Howard at the Jets’ 8-yard line, and cornerback Samuel Womack secured the second pick later in the half. The Jets’ secondary, which went the 2025 regular season without an interception, broke its drought with these two plays.
Official Statements & Responses
- DeShon Elliott (Steelers safety) was identified by PFF as the highest-graded Steelers player with a 93.6 rating, underscoring the defensive unit’s strong showing despite the offensive struggles.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I just need to do a better job, especially early in drives, taking what's given," Allar said.” — Drew Allar
- “It felt good to be out there with the guys,” — Geno Smith
What’s Next
The Steelers will evaluate Howard and Allar during the preseason finale to determine the depth chart behind veteran Aaron Rodgers. The Jets plan to continue integrating Smith while giving Cade Klubnik additional reps against the Steelers’ secondary. Both teams will review film from the August 21 contest as they finalize roster decisions ahead of the regular season.
