Steelers Coach Says Team Is Fully Ready for Falcons Opener

The Steelers are gearing up to welcome the Atlanta Falcons in their 2026 season kickoff on Sunday. It will be the first game of the new campaign. Fans are excited to see how the team looks fresh after the offseason.

Coach Mike McCarthy took the podium on Monday and answered a simple question about injuries. He said the squad is completely healthy and expects everyone to be ready. Unlike his predecessor, he skips long opening talks and long injury lists. He prefers short, direct answers.

Players who had been out of practice recently were seen taking part in drills during the open session. The group included receivers DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Ben Skowronek, safety Jaquan Brisker, defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, rookie fullback Riley Nowakowski, and backup quarterback Will Howard. All of them were on the field doing individual work.

McCarthy explained that he keeps a board with all healthy names and projects the 48‑player lineup for the week. He says the team looks set for the opener. The coaching staff feels confident heading into the game.