As the Steelers sat down the night before the NFL’s first game in Ireland, HC Mike Tomlin prepared to give them a pep talk. But instead, he discussed the one reason he was in Pittsburgh—the late Steelers owner, Dan Rooney. With teary eyes, he talked about the former U.S. ambassador to Ireland and how his vision helped the Steelers through their six Super Bowl wins. By the end of the speech, he had one ask from the group: come out of Croke Park with a win.

In exchange, Tomlin promised something he has never done before in his 19 seasons in Pittsburgh. Holding a late comeback effort by the Vikings for a 24-21 home win, the Steelers deserved this special bye week bonus. As reported by Steelers Correspondent, Mark Kaboly, “The Steelers will not hold an official open practice during the bye week. This may be the first time in the Tomlin era that he’s done that.”

Coaches rarely guarantee a light treatment during a bye, especially when injuries accumulate and momentum is at stake. For Tomlin, who has seen his defense waver in the first two weeks and wishes his offense to create more chemistry, this move signaled strong faith in the roster’s resolve. But he was certain of what he was doing.

“I promised them a sweet bye week if we got the business done,” Tomlin told the reporters after the game. “I’ll probably have to fulfill that promise. There probably won’t be a lot of work in the week that lies ahead. We’ll get ourselves a good bonus on Monday and a good week’s work coming out of it, but they’re deserving of that.”

Pittsburgh is also the second-oldest team by average age in the league after the Washington Commanders. This week to rest, recharge, and return could also mean a reduction in workload for the veteran players. Already, veteran QB Aaron Rodgers had revealed his plans on doing some body work. Even though the Steelers did not play the most ideal football in Dublin, they were still at their personal best of the season as they broke the Vikings’ late surge.

Already, Minnesota had proven that they do not give up on a game until the final buzzer in Week 1. Then, on a road comeback on “Monday Night Football,” they stunned the Chicago Bears with 21 fourth-quarter points in a 27-24 win at Soldier Field. The team that matched the Steelers with a 2-1 record before their first international game. They almost tried the same tactic in Ireland.

Rodgers handled the offense early. Kenneth Gainwell’s rushing score gave Pittsburgh the lead. On an 80-yard touchdown pass, Rodgers struck D.K. Metcalf. With 11:21 left in the game, they were ahead 24-6. But the Vikings bridged the scoring gap late, coming back from a 24-6 deficit to drive for a potential game-tying field goal in the final minute. Although Carson Wentz completed two touchdown throws, their last effort on fourth-and-17 was unsuccessful.

Overall, Gainwell ran for two touchdowns and 99 yards. Aaron Rodgers scored 200 yards and one touchdown on 18 of 22 passes. The Pittsburgh Steelers forced two interceptions by T.J. Watt and DeShon Elliott and sacked Carson Wentz six times. It wasn’t easy to complete Tomlin’s wish to leave Ireland with a win for Rooney. But sharing the head coach’s resolve and intensity, the team got it anyway. The Steelers enter the bye week with a 3-1 record.

For the players, this time off offers opportunities for rest and recovery. For coaches, it demands readiness to ramp back up for the upcoming challenges as injuries take a toll on the Steelers’ roster.

Injury toll rises on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ ailing roster

Late in the Steelers’ victory over the Vikings, Calvin Austin III sustained a shoulder injury. An ambulance took him for further evaluation after the game due to Croke Park’s lack of imaging equipment. Austin had two catches for 13 yards before leaving the game with the injury. He also threw a key block on DK Metcalf’s 80-yard touchdown in the first half. Throughout the match, his return was still in doubt. The rookie in his final year of the contract may miss several games, according to postgame reports.

The injuries continued to mount. CB Jalen Ramsey, who, ironically, did a fake hamstring pull celebration early in the game, suffered the same a few quarters later. Although he tried to return against the Vikings, it didn’t work out. According to reports, he will miss a few weeks as well.

Following what appeared to be a non-contact incident on Sunday, Brandin Echols experienced calf cramps. Darius Slay returned with a limp after a receiver from the Vikings landed on him after a contested grab on the sidelines during the game. Running back Jaylen Warren (knee), cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring), and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) were already absent for the Pittsburgh Steelers going into the game.

Austin is the team’s number two receiver and has proven his skills in the last few weeks, which means this injury is particularly detrimental, especially given other injuries to the secondary, including Porter Jr. His absence forces depth players into larger roles. Ramsey’s problem further strains the secondary and decreases its flexibility. The team has to improvise substitutes, reduce risk, and hope that the recovery schedule proves effective.