The Pittsburgh Steelers are on to Week 3 and a matchup with the New England Patriots, but just before that occurs, linebacker Patrick Queen was issued a Week 2 reminder in the form of an NFL fine.
According to the NFL Football Operations’ Gameday Accountability page, Queen was fined $17,389 for an illegal “hit on the quarterback,” described as a “blow to the head/neck.” This league infringement took place in the first quarter of the Week 2 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, and A-to-Z Sports Pittsburgh reporter Rob Gregson shared a clip of the hit on X.
Considering the Steelers ended up losing this game by a score of 31-17, this announcement just adds salt in the wounds for Queen.
No members of the Seahawks were fined by the NFL following Week 2.
Steelers LB Patrick Queen Struggles in Coverage to Start the 2025 Season
The Steelers spent $41 million in order to lure Queen to Pittsburgh in 2024, but fans have often questioned if the middle linebacker has been worth the cap hit.
So far, his 2025 performance has been mixed. According to Pro Football Focus, Queen has been strong in run defense over the first two weeks, and as a tackler overall. However, his coverage marks have left a lot to be desired.
Through two games, Queen has allowed all 6 of his coverage targets to be caught, for a total of 62 yards and 1 touchdown. And in Week 2, specifically, his passer rating against was an exorbitant 158.3.
On the flip side, Queen has yet to miss a tackle, and he’s been credited with 6 key defensive “stops” that have resulted in a “failure” for the opposing offense. Queen has also registered 3 quarterback pressures on PFF.
No matter what Queen has been doing on a personal level, the Steelers‘ defense has not been good enough in 2025, period. And the $41 million linebacker is a huge part of this unit.
Pittsburgh must get it together on the defensive side, and that includes Queen. If not, it could be a long season for the Steelers.
Steelers Run Defense, Led by Patrick Queen, Featured as ‘Key Matchup’ in Week 3 vs. Patriots
The Steelers must stop the run if they want to beat the Patriots. That means slowing down veteran power back Rhamondre Stevenson, something Steelers.com contributor Matt Williamson referred to as a “key matchup” ahead of Week 3.
Rookie TreVeyon Henderson will also factor in here as a ball carrier for the Patriots, but Stevenson is currently New England’s lead running back,” Williamson wrote. He added that “Drake Maye is also a very effective rusher of the football.”
Concluding: “Pittsburgh’s run defense has been a massive problem this season and surely, New England will try to exploit this in Week 3.”
Obviously, when it comes to stopping the run, Queen will be integral in doing so. Teams have run the ball away from T.J. Watt this season, and it’s worked, so perhaps head coach Mike Tomlin has to figure out a way to shade Queen to whichever side Watt isn’t on.
Either way, the Patriots will be another really strong test for Pittsburgh. So far, the Steelers have faced the New York Jets and Seahawks, two teams that run the football well.
New England is another smashmouth football team led by Mike Vrabel and Josh McDaniels, and the Steelers must match their intensity if they want to win on Sunday.
Steelers’ $41 Million Starter Slapped With 5-Figure NFL Fine