PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin talked about turnovers, self-inflicted wounds and penalties being a factor in defeat. But it’s the preseason, which makes most of his concerns secondary to what was most encouraging for the Steelers.

They saw a couple of their recent third-round draft choices make the types of plays they envisioned when they selected them.

Receiver Roman Wilson, a third-round pick in 2024 who missed his entire rookie season with injury, had two catches for 72 yards in the first half, including a 42-yard reception that set up the Steelers’ first touchdown.

And rookie Kaleb Johnson, their third-round pick this year, took Tomlin’s pregame advice, ran more freely and instinctively and helped set up the Steelers’ second touchdown.

It didn’t matter, as the Steelers lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 17-14, on Chase McLaughlin’s 42-yard field goal as time expired Saturday night at Acrisure Stadium. What mattered more was what they saw from two young players who are expected to be key contributors in their offense.

“I thought several players took a step forward — two young guys in particular,” Tomlin said.

Curiously, his reference was to Johnson and another rookie, No. 1 pick Derrick Harmon, who is becoming the disruptive influence on the defensive line they expected when they selected him 21st overall.

But he didn’t mean to leave out Wilson, who made his first game in front of the home crowd a special one.

“He’s had a good camp and he's backed that up with some quality in-stadium play,” Tomlin said of Wilson. “I feel good about the overall trajectory of him. He has to keep his foot on the gas and keep working.”

As promised, Tomlin did not use any of the players who did not participate in the preseason opener in Jacksonville, including Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf and Jalen Ramsey — depriving the home crowd of seeing the team’s three main newcomers. The lone exception was outside linebacker Nick Herbig, and he probably wished he didn’t.

Herbig injured his hamstring on the Buccaneers’ second offensive possession and did not return, but Tomlin said he is OK.

The Steelers close out their preseason Thursday night against the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, N.C., and his plan might not change then, either.

With Jaylen Warren being held out for the second game in a row, Johnson had runs of 14, 9 and 8 yards and finished with 50 yards on 11 carries. He carried three consecutive plays for 18 yards to set up Trey Sermon’s 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that tied the game at 14-all.

“I just thought we saw more of his talents this time around, and that's a reasonable expectation,” Tomlin said. “He's been in the stadium. The mystique of it is over. As people get settled in and more comfortable with their roles in this NFL environment, I think you'll see more of their talents. I just felt like we saw more of his talent tonight.”

Wilson’s performance was a good sign for him and a great sign for a receiving corps that is still seeking complements for Metcalf. Wilson’s 42-yard catch behind cornerback Jamel Dean set up Mason Rudolph’s 2-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Johnson that cut the Buccaneers’ lead to 14-7.

Wilson’s ascent has been timely, as well, because receiver Calvin Austin III, who is being projected as the No. 2 receiver, has missed extensive time and hasn’t appeared in either preseason game.

“Every time you’re on the field, it’s nice to get to be involved,” Wilson said. “It’s just that next step in the process. It could have been anyone out there today. It just happened to be me and it’s just a nice, good step in the next process of this team.”

Tomlin said the team got good news on long snapper Christian Kuntz, who left the game in the first quarter with a chest injury sustained making a tackle on a 37-yard punt return by rookie receiver Tez Johnson. Kuntz was in a lot of discomfort coming off the field and on the sideline.

There was no quick-strike, pass-happy offense the Steelers used for success in their first preseason game. In fact, Rudolph’s second pass against the Buccaneers was intercepted.

But it eventually warmed up, and the receiver making all the big plays was Wilson, who has slowly become more of a frequent target in their passing game. His quick strikes came after the Buccaneers took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter en route to a 14-7 halftime advantage.

“He’s been great,” Rudolph said of Wilson. “I commented on how hungry he’s been. He probably would have played the whole game tonight if he could.”

The Buccaneers’ first touchdown — a 15-yard pass from Teddy Bridgewater to running back Bucky Irving over inside linebacker Payton Wilson —came after cornerback D’Shawn Jamison was penalized for running into kicker Chase McLaughlin on a 43-yard field goal.

Tomlin said earlier in the week he wanted to see Johnson run more instinctively after a modest debut in Jacksonville — 20 yards on eight carries — and he saw it on a 14-yard run in the second quarter. It appeared to ignite a drive that got as far as the Tampa Bay 13, but Skylar Thompson’s pass for receiver Lance McCutcheon was tipped and intercepted.

“That’s a reasonable thing to expect,” Tomlin said of Johnson’s improvements. “The second time stepping into a stadium, you see more of their talents.”

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