Steelers Newcomer Explodes for 3 TD and 233 Yards — Fans Say He Just Saved His NFL Dream

PITTSBURGH, PA — Under the humid Florida night at EverBank Stadium, Steelers newcomer Skylar Thompson delivered the kind of performance that can flip an NFL career. With his roster spot on the line, the veteran quarterback candidate erupted for 233 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and zero interceptions, leading Pittsburgh to a 31–25 preseason win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The game opened with both teams trading early punches, but Pittsburgh went into halftime holding a narrow 14–9 lead — a gap trimmed in dramatic fashion when Jaguars rookie kicker Cam Little drilled a stunning 70-yard field goal just before the break.

When the second half began, Thompson turned up the heat. On the opening drive, he marched the Steelers 75 yards in eight plays, capping it with a 22-yard strike to rookie wideout Roman Wilson. Later in the third quarter, he connected deep with Calvin Austin III for a 43-yard touchdown, sending the small pocket of Steelers fans in Jacksonville into a frenzy.

Jacksonville rallied late, but Thompson’s composure on a final, clock-draining drive iced the game and showcased the kind of command coaches want in a backup — or even a spot starter.

"I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW HEART WHEN I SEE IT. THAT STEELERS NEWCOMER? HE DIDN'T FLINCH. DIDN'T PLAY LIKE A GUY FIGHTING FOR A ROSTER SPOT — HE PLAYED LIKE HE BELONGED IN BLACK AND GOLD. AND THOSE TOUCHDOWNS? THAT WAS STEEL CITY GRIT AT ITS FINEST."

Brought in this offseason as a low-risk, high-upside addition, Thompson entered camp with long odds to crack the 53-man roster behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. But after this performance, those odds just got a whole lot better.

If the rest of the preseason looks anything like this, Skylar Thompson won’t just make the team — he might make a real case to see the field when it matters most.