Carson Bruener

ILB · Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals · 22 graded snaps

Replacement

Bruener put together a reliable special-teams performance, offsetting an early lost block on kick return with two effective tackles in kick coverage.

Carson Bruener film grade: 63: share card

Special teams6322

The full breakdown

Bruener earned a 63.1 replacement-level grade across 22 special teams snaps, with 19 graded as routine execution. His primary blemish occurred on the opening kickoff (Q1 15:00), where he failed to sustain a block on Burks, leading to a tackle at the PIT 27. He positively influenced the grade in kickoff coverage, fighting through lane traffic for a solo tackle on Williams late in the first quarter (Q1 0:52). He added another positive play in the third quarter (Q3 2:43) by shedding contact to assist on a tackle, pushing his overall mark slightly above neutral.

Strengths

Kickoff coverage pursuit
Fighting through congestion
Shedding contact to finish tackles

Weaknesses

Sustaining blocks on return units

Plays that moved the grade

-0.5Q1 15:00Failed to sustain his zone block on Burks, allowing a tackle at the PIT 27.
+1Q1 0:52Fought through congestion in the return lane to secure a solo tackle on Williams at the CIN 36.
+0.5Q3 2:43Shed initial contact on kickoff coverage and combined with Spears-Jennings for a tackle at the CIN 36.

Every graded snap · 3 wins or losses, 19 routine

-0.5Q1 15:00 · Special teamsEngages Burks but fails to sustain his block, allowing Burks to make the tackle at the 27.
+1Q1 00:52 · Special teamsFights through congestion in the return lane and secures the solo tackle on Williams at the CIN 36.
+0.5Q3 02:43 · Special teamsSheds initial contact and combines with Spears-Jennings to secure the tackle on Williams at the 36-yard line.

Carson Bruener's season grades →