Pittsburgh Steelers主教练Mike McCarthy和新秀接手Eli Heidenreich将在周四晚间的NFL预赛中首次以Steelers身份亮相，对手是Green Bay Packers，比赛在Acrisure Stadium举行[1]。两人均为匹兹堡本地人，此次回归虽引发关注，但他们都表示需要将焦点放在比赛表现上。McCarthy表示"我只想看这些年轻球员比赛"[1]，而Heidenreich则强调"预赛非常重要，我必须全力以赴，上场后保持专注"[1]。
McCarthy于今年1月被聘为Steelers首年主教练，这可能是他职业生涯最后的执教阶段[1]。在本场预赛中，他将考察年轻四分卫Will Howard和Drew Allar的表现。Heidenreich是第七轮选秀秀，来自海军学院，身高6英尺、体重206磅，创造了该校职业生涯接收码数和接收达阵纪录[1]。他目前面临在特勤队争取出场机会的压力，但近期遭遇轻微腿筋拉伤[1]。
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy and rookie wide receiver Eli Heidenreich will make their first appearances in black and gold during Thursday night's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium.[1] Both men are Pittsburgh natives, and their homecomings have drawn considerable attention, though each has emphasized the importance of maintaining focus on performance rather than sentiment.
McCarthy, hired as Steelers head coach in January, is entering what he has described as a potentially final stage of his coaching career.[1] The preseason matchup will provide his first opportunity to evaluate young quarterbacks Will Howard and Drew Allar in game conditions.[1] "I just want to see these young guys play," McCarthy stated.[1]
Heidenreich, a seventh-round draft pick from the Naval Academy, arrives carrying high expectations for a player from his school, holding both career receiving yards and receiving touchdown records at the academy.[1] Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 206 pounds, the rookie is under pressure to secure playing time on special teams and compete for roster depth.[1] He has dealt with a minor hamstring strain recently.[1] "Preseason is really important. So I've got to put my best foot forward and be locked in when I get there," Heidenreich said of the opportunity ahead.[1]