Almost everyone can agree that the main goal of the preseason is to get your starters through healthy, while also evaluating your young talent. Both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers did not reach this goal after they both suffered losses to key, star players. 

The Steelers lost 4-time Pro Bowl Center Maurkice Pouncey after he was roled up on by Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Clinton-Dix was attempting to tackle Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell. Pouncey limped off gingerly and was looked at by trainers on the sideline. He was eventually carted off. The Steelers then lost second-year defensive end Stephon Tuitt. Tuitt went to make a tackle when safety Shamarko Thomas flew in his lower leg, Thomas was also attempting to the make the tackle, missed and accidently injured him. Tuitt remained on the ground and then trainer came onto the field the check him out, he then limped off. As with Pouncey, the trainers continued to evaluate him before he was carted off too. 

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin commented on the injuries to Pouncey and Tuitt after the game.

"Maurkice Pouncey had an ankle injury, it's probably going to be surgical...Tuitt has an ankle but that appears to be your classic ankle, he'll be down a couple of weeks or so."

Tomlin didn't put a timetable to Pouncey's injury but made it seem like he is not going to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweeted out "Pouncey has broken lower left leg and is scheduled to have surgery". If this is the case, a broken ankle that requires surgery is usually a six-week injury at minimum. Details were later revealed that he had broken a fibula.

A common misconception is Pouncey is an injury prone player when this is simply not true. Excluding 2013, when Pouncey tore his ACL and almost 99.99% of players would have been out for the season due to this injury, Pouncey has played in 61 of 64 (95%) regular season games. He has played in 3 of 5 postseason games. For a total 64 of 69 (93%) games played. Yep real injury prone. 

If Tuitt's injury is just a sprain he could be out from three to six weeks.

The Packers suffered an impactful loss with Jordy Nelson likely having a torn ACL and being sidelined for the entire season.

Now lets move on to the game with some winners and losers.

Winners:

OLB Bud Dupree: After not showing much in the first two preseason games, Dupree gave us something to look at today. He recorded two tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack, and one quarterback hit. While this was nothing to be amazed at, this will hopefully quiet his critics.

RB DeAngelo Williams: He ran the ball only four times but showed good lateral quickness to cut and make tacklers miss. With his vision he will be able to find running and burst through them. This is extremely valuable in the large amount of zone-blocking the Steelers use.

WR Markus Wheaton: He was able to bounce back after suffering a hamstring injury during training camp. Wheaton caught five passes for 42 yards and a touchdown that gave the Steelers the lead early on in the game. Another was for 17 yards on a key 3rd and 11 to move the chains. Wheaton is lined up for a big year in 2015.

Punting competition: Jordan Berry and Brad Wing both had excellent days. Berry probably stuck out the more considering he was the unknown player and the underdog to win the position. He averaged just over 47 yards per punt. His best, along with help from Antwon Blake, pinned the Packers inside their own 1 yard line. This resulted in the Steelers first score after  James Harrison sacked Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the end zone for a safety three plays later. Wing's leg was on display with his 3 punts distancing 64, 57, and 51 yards for an average just north of 57 yards. This roster battle should come down to the final days of the preseason.

S Shamarko Thomas: Thomas had his usual preseason game. He was flying all over the field and making plays. He recorded six tackles and a sack. He was able to come up and filled lanes against the run, he made open field tackles, and contributed on special teams as the gunner on the punt team recording a solo tackle. If he can stay healthy, Thomas could become a huge playmaker this rebuilding defense has needed.

QB/WR Tyler Murphy: After this showing today it would be a huge surprise if Murphy does not end up on the practice squad. He had a great day and tied the team lead with for receptions and led the team with 61 yards, which included a 22 yard catch and run for a touchdown early on in the forth quarter. He also had 25 yard reception and weaved in and out, making defenders miss and look silly.

Losers:

CB Antwon Blake: Its obvious what the Packers thought of Blake and that wasn't much. Rodgers went after him early on in the game and completed a couple of passes for big gains. Blake is a promising player with great physicality but does have his limitations. If he keeps this up it is only a matter of time before newly acquired Brandon Boykin over takes on the roster depth chart.

G/C Chris Hubbard: Hubbard lacks the lateral ability to seal edge defenders and he failed to identify and pick up blitzes cause pressure up the middle and resulting in no where to go except to the ground with a defender on top of him. Pouncey's injury did help his chances at making the roster though.

First team run defense: The team's play on the opening drive was horrible. Packers running back Eddie Lacy was running through big holes left and right. Lacy then went untouched into the end zone later on in the drive. Followed by James Starks almost going untouched also for 2-point conversion. While the Packers did throw the ball a little to spread out the defense it was not a promising look from the starters.

WR/PR Kenzel Doe: The tiny receiver failed to get on the field with the offense. The only time Doe got on the field was when he was the sole punt returner. He returned four pants for a grand total of one yard. These is a textbook example of a guy trying to "dance" and make too much happen on one play. Doe is going to have to show more if wants a shot at the practice squad.

WR Sammie Coates: The third round pick out of Auburn managed to haul in a 57 yard bomb from Landry Jones but that was really it. He did show the awareness to get back up after catching a ball and hitting the ground. Wideouts transitioning to the NFL sometimes have trouble adjusting to the rules change from college to the National Football League. Coates dropped two catchable balls. One was on 2nd and 16, which would have made the next play a more manageable 3rd and medium instead of the 3rd and long. While it seems minor this is the kind of stuff the keep coaches up at night and eventually make him an easy designation for the inactive list.

Other notes:

The first team offense looked solid. Ben Roethlisberger went 11-for-14 with 100 yard, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. Antonio Brown caught the ball four times and picked up 24 yards. Martavis Bryant showed great concentration tracking a ball that was tipped in the air and making the catch. Jarvis Jones showed some upside after recording two tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one QB hit.

The team will need to build off of this win and will take on the Buffalo Bills next week, who are currently in the middle of a quarterback competition.