Pittsburgh Steelers 2016 preseason schedule and opponents released

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced their 2016 preseason schedule Thursday, and the schedule is pretty familiar. Check below for the team's preseason slate of games:

2016 Steelers Preseason Schedule (Dates and times TBD):

Week 1: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 2: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 3: at New Orleans Saints
Week 4: at Carolina Panthers

The preseason continues to be a hot topic of debate for fans who have to pay full ticket prices for a meaningless game, as well as players who have the risk of injury playing in a game which has zero significance to the team. Fans of the Steelers know all too well about preseason injuries, as they lost All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey to a broken ankle in the second week of the preseason in a game against the Green Bay Packers at Heinz Field.

The Steelers played in 5 preseason games in 2015, as they played the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL's Hall of Fame game on Hall of Fame weekend. Certainly the regular 4-game schedule will be a welcome slate to both players and coaches.

As for Pittsburgh's 2016 opponents, they are below. The schedule release should be announced in the coming weeks as the 2016 NFL Draft approaches.

Steelers 2016 Opponents:

Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs.

Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Indianapolis Colts.