The Steelers won 10 games a season ago, and since then they’ve loaded up. Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey — what could possibly go wrong? Well, plenty actually.

Amid an overwhelming vibe of optimism at Saint Vincent College, a late-July reality check is in order.

The Steelers at training camp appear to be a team of great potential, no question.

But there are also uncertainties, variables in the equation that can change the dynamic faster than one of those thunderstorms that have been descending daily upon the campus.

Such as:

• Quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ health: Mason Rudolph is a more-than-adequate backup and he’s capable of leading the way to 9-8. But the Steelers brought Rodgers here for more than another one-and-done foray into the playoffs. And he’ll turn 42 before anyone in the league reaches the postseason. Can he stay upright and functioning for the duration?
• Broderick Jones being able to play left offensive tackle in a manner representative of a third-year, former first-round pick: He’s been inconsistent and immature during his first two seasons, which isn’t out of character for a young player still in the development stage. But it’s time for Jones to raise his level of play, particularly in protecting the blind side of a quarterback who will open the season at age 41.
• Wide receiver DK Metcalf’s health: The offense got knocked off the rails when George Pickens was injured and missed three games late last season. It never got back on track. And the Steelers aren’t any deeper at wide receiver this season than they were a season ago (at least they have yet to establish the depth the coaching staff keeps maintaining they have this time around).
• Calvin Austin III’s ability to impact games the way a legitimate No. 2 wide receiver does: The coaching staff has high hopes but Austin remains a 5-foot-9, 162-pound projection at a position where the Steelers don’t have the luxury of making a wrong call.
• The second-year players the Steelers are counting upon to raise their level of play being much better this time around: Jones, defensive tackle Keeanu Benton and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. weren’t a year ago. Wide receiver Roman Wilson and right offensive tackle Troy Fautanu head the list of those who need to take that leap this season. Both had their rookie campaigns obliterated by injury last season. They’re both more than rookies but still less than established entering 2025.
• Whether defensive tackle Cam Heyward finally starts acting and playing his age (36) or continues to defy time: Can he really turn in another Herculean, all-pro effort? It’s possible, but should the Steelers be counting upon as much? And what if they don’t get it from their Grand Old Cam?
• Whether defensive tackle Derrick Harmon acts and plays his age (21): He’s a first-round pick for a reason, but sometimes it takes a little time. And the track record of recent Steelers’ No. 1s has, for one reason or another, been less than spectacular. The Steelers are going to need that from Harmon.
• Whether the defensive staff will become so fascinated with all their new toys that at some point they’ll wind up over-thinking a gameplay the way they did in the playoffs last January against the Ravens: The Steelers absolutely got outplayed by Baltimore. They were also outcoached because they overcoached. And they’re not good enough to beat themselves.
• The effect on outcomes if kicker Chris Boswell doesn’t have another career year: The Steelers won six of their 10 games last season by eight points or fewer. Boswell contributed 41 field goals on 44 attempts, including 13 of 15 from 50 yards out or longer, and never missed an extra point. He might have been their offensive MVP. Can he be that again? And will he need to be?
• The special teams’ ability to keep staging block parties on a regular basis on the way to providing for the Steelers the NFL’s best kicking game: They had that a season ago but that’s tough to replicate.

That’s a lot to contemplate, through August and beyond.

Not a forecast of gloom and doom, necessarily.

But a reminder of all that will need to go right despite the acquisitions of Rodgers, Metcalf and Ramsey.

Mike Prisuta is the sports anchor/reporter for Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show. He’s also the host of the Steelers Radio Network Pregame Show and the color analyst for Robert Morris University men’s hockey broadcasts.