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Welcome to Stars and Skulls, a weekly grading series that focuses on individual performances of Steelers players.

Each week, Christopher Carter gives his grades after watching the All-22 film of the Steelers’ most recent contest. These grades reflect the impact the players made on the game. While all players are considered for grades, players not named are considered to have neutral grades where they either didn’t make a major impact on the result of the game, or their combination of successes and mistakes evened each other out.

The Steelers’ 33-31 loss to the Bengals on Thursday night at Paycor Stadium featured several impressive and disappointing performances that balanced out a close loss in a letdown performance — largely by the defense.

Here are the Week 7 stars and skulls:

⭐⭐⭐ (Elite performance)

RB Jaylen Warren

Warren came two yards shy of his career-best — 129 rushing yards against the Browns in 2023 — and did so while averaging 5.75 yards after contact. He’s cemented himself as the running back the Steelers should depend on moving forward and consistently grades as one of the better players on offense.

⭐⭐ (Exceptionally good game — or multiple vital plays)

QB Aaron Rodgers

Were it not for his bad decision that led to his first interception, Rodgers would’ve received his third three-star grade of the season. He continues to see the field and takes what’s available to make the right reads and keep the Steelers’ offense moving. Four touchdowns all being to tight ends shows that even without a high pedigree wide receiver second on their depth chart, the Steelers can be dangerous throwing the ball.

TE Pat Freiermuth

After being largely ignored in the team’s passing attack for weeks, Freiermuth reminded everyone why the Steelers made sure to keep him after his rookie contract with five receptions on six targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns. He would’ve had a three-star grade were it not for a third-down drop that could’ve kept a fourth-quarter drive alive.

OL Mason McCormick, Troy Fautanu

Something is brewing on the right side of the Steelers’ offensive line, as the majority of the rushing dominance again came behind the blocking of McCormick and Fautanu. When running to gaps next to these two, the Steelers gained 98 yards on nine carries — an average of 10.9 yards per carry. Add in that Fautanu and McCormick each only allowed a single pressure, and you have a good day.

⭐ (Solid performance — or made a big play without a costly play)

OL Zach Frazier, Broderick Jones, Isaac Seumalo, Spencer Anderson

Frazier would’ve been a two-star grade were it not for a holding call that wiped out a Warren touchdown in the first half on a drive that ended in a field goal. Otherwise, he was good in the run game and only allowed a single pressure.

Both Seumalo and Jones each allowed three pressures, but no sacks, and were solid in the run game while Anderson again helped as a solid extra run blocker on heavy formations.

TEs Darnell Washington, Jonnu Smith

Washington continues to be a major asset for the run game, and both he and Smith tallied touchdowns for Rodgers.

WR Roman Wilson

He showed that he does get open and can make a play with the ball in his hands. Two catches on two targets for 17 yards isn’t a lot, but his 13-yard reception on 3rd-and-8 in the third quarter was very impressive. Maybe the young guy needs more targets.

DL Cam Heyward

Despite the poor showing by the run defense as a whole, Heyward wasn’t the problem, as his gap was often accounted for and he brought six pressures with a sack in the fourth quarter that helped the Steelers get the ball back before their fourth-quarter, go-ahead touchdown. Not his best game, but also not a bad one.

CB Brandin Echols

For as bad a day as the secondary had on the whole, Echols showed that maybe he needs more snaps at outside cornerback instead of Darius Slay Jr. He was targeted five times and allowed three receptions for just 24 yards while also forcing an incomplete pass. He’s been a consistent asset to the secondary.

K Chris Boswell

Another showing where he doesn’t miss a kick and put all his kickoffs in play.

P Corliss Waitman

Only two punts on the day but put both inside the Bengals’ 20, and the last of his punts gave the Steelers defense space to get the ball back with the same score late in the fourth quarter.

Notable neutrals

There are players who aren’t given a star or a skull because they either didn’t impact the game in a significantly good or bad way — or they did, but in a way that balanced out the good with the bad. Here, I’ll note players who classified for the latter category.

DL Derrick Harmon

Harmon wasn’t a big problem in the run game and did register three pressures. No demerits here, but this is the first game he’s played where he hasn’t received a star grade.

LBs T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig

Watt registered four pressures and split the sack with Heyward in the fourth quarter, but he was largely schemed out of the game — much like what the Steelers did to Myles Garrett last week. Herbig also registered three pressures but never got home for a sack.

S Chuck Clark

Broke up a touchdown reception for Ja’Marr Chase and made some good hits in space to limit underneath passes. But that got diminished by some of his lapses in coverage — including his placement in zone coverage on Tee Higgins’ 29-yard touchdown.

💀 (Mildly poor performance — or made a key mistake without redemption)

WR DK Metcalf

Lands here solely because of the interception that was ripped away from him. It was the type of play Metcalf normally makes and turned into arguably the biggest momentum-shifting play for the Bengals.

LBs Alex Highsmith, Payton Wilson

Highsmith had only a single pressure on the night and missed two tackles in run defense. The Steelers need him to be a bigger asset in the pass rush or make more of an impact against the run. But his gap wasn’t the biggest issue in stopping the Bengals’ run game. Wilson could’ve been better against the run but wasn’t the biggest problem, and he allowed three receptions on three targets for 32 yards.

💀💀 (Bad overall game, or multiple critical mistakes in costly moments)

DL Keeanu Benton

Benton looked on track for another star grade with his early sack on Joe Flacco. But he became such a detriment on run defense that he was the most costly Steelers defensive lineman on the day. He avoids a worse grade because of his sack, but Benton’s issues in run defense reappeared, and that could be a problem. Chase Brown’s biggest success came in his gaps.

CB Joey Porter Jr.

Porter got tagged for two defensive pass interference penalties and gave up four receptions on seven targets for 21 yards. He did make some good plays on the ball with two breakups that led to third-down stops — but that’s the sole reason why he avoids the lowest grade. His mental errors late in the game proved costly, and he needed to have a better day. 

S DeShon Elliott

Elliott was out of place on a few zone-coverage assignments where the Bengals gained important yards, but his biggest problems came in run defense, where he missed two tackles. The Steelers need him to a be a positive contributor there, and he was the opposite.

💀💀💀 (Terrible performance, major hindrance to team/game plan)

LB Patrick Queen

The worst showing of the year for the Steelers’ top inside linebacker, as he led the team with three missed tackles and only had one solo tackle on the game. He also got beat for three receptions on five targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. It’s a complete turnaround from him playing some really good football the past few weeks.

CBs Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay Jr.

Ramsey did break up a touchdown pass, but he also got beat for a touchdown and again when Higgins caught a deep ball on the Bengals’ final drive of the game that set up their game-winning field goal. Factor in his two defensive pass interference penalties, and that’s as bad a day as he’s had for the Steelers. He ultimately allowed five receptions for 62 yards on nine targets. Slay was the biggest coverage liability on the day for the Steelers, as he allowed six receptions on seven targets for 80 yards and a touchdown and dropped an interception. Both were extremely costly in Thursday’s loss.