Joe Rutter stories, Page 18

Not unlike a father teaching a child to ride a bike, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been careful about how much playing time they have given to their rookie class at the outset of the season. They have tried not to overwhelm the rookies, allowing them to develop at their own...

Cameron Heyward doesn’t know when he will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup because of his groin injury that required surgery. He just knows it will happen at some point this season. “I’m working my tail off to try to get back,” Heyward said Thursday. “We’ll see when we get...

His play calling and the lack of production by the Pittsburgh Steelers offense already has put Matt Canada in the crosshairs with an unhappy fan base. On Thursday, Canada found himself addressing another issue that has sparked outrage among Steeler Nation: his alleged comments to CBS that the Steelers’ offense...

Wearing a brace to support his bruised left knee, Kenny Pickett practiced Wednesday and didn’t experience any limitations in his return from an injury suffered Sunday in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans. “I’ll be ready to go by Sunday,” Pickett said, referring to the Steelers’ upcoming...

Najee Harris didn’t mention Matt Canada by name, but the Pittsburgh Steelers running back seemed to throw some support behind the team’s embattled offensive coordinator Wednesday when he met with the media. Harris said the Steelers played “soft” last Sunday in a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans and indicated...

Former second-round draft pick Denzel Mims was one of two players the Pittsburgh Steelers signed to their practice squad Tuesday. Mims, a 6-foot-3, 207-pound wide receiver, and tackle Obinna Eze were added to the practice squad, while the Steelers released running back Greg Bell and wide receivers Jalen Camp and...

Mike Tomlin promised changes. And they’re coming … in the way the Pittsburgh Steelers practice. Two days after saying he wasn’t going to maintain the status quo after a 30-6 loss at Houston, Tomlin said his players will don pads for the first time in three weeks Wednesday when the...

If he had known the outcome of the fourth-down play, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin would have trotted out kicker Chris Boswell to attempt a long field goal near the end of the third quarter last Sunday afternoon in Houston. “But I don’t get do-overs,” Tomlin said Tuesday. So, Tomlin...

Kenny Pickett is scheduled to practice Wednesday to gauge whether he can return from a left knee injury and start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in their AFC North matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Pickett hobbled off the field and was taken to the locker room late...

Five things we learned from Texans 30, Steelers 6: 1. Time for a switch? When Mike Tomlin benched Mitch Trubisky at halftime of Week 4 against the New York Jets last season, he did so because he was searching for something to “spark” the offense. Kenny Pickett replaced Trubisky and...

HOUSTON — Kenny Pickett’s knee injury wasn’t the only one suffered by the Pittsburgh Steelers in their 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. Tight end Pat Freiermuth left in the third quarter with a hamstring injury. That came after left tackle Dan Moore exited in the first quarter...

HOUSTON — On a day when they ventured deep into the heart of Texas, the Pittsburgh Steelers left NRG Stadium with deeper problems than what faced the Apollo 13 mission. A 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans not only snapped a two-game winning streak for the Steelers (2-2), it exposed...

HOUSTON — A year after being replaced by Kenny Pickett in the fourth week of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season, Mitch Trubisky found his role reversed Sunday. Trubisky relieved Pickett after the Steelers’ quarterback left with a left knee injury late in the third quarter of a 30-6 loss to the...

HOUSTON — The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a fifth wide receiver in uniform Sunday when they play the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. It will not, however, be Gunner Olszewski. Although Olszewski was cleared from concussion protocol and practiced all week for the Steelers, he was among the players listed...

It didn’t matter to Jaylen Warren that he was giving up 9 inches and 40 pounds to Maxx Crosby. Didn’t matter that he was bracing to block one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers. Didn’t matter that he was a former undrafted free agent going up against a two-time Pro...

For one third-quarter possession Sunday night, it was the preseason all over again for Kenny Pickett and the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Pickett presided over a drive in the 23-18 victory at Las Vegas that went 81 yards in six plays. The Steelers collected five first downs. Four players touched the...

If Matt Canada has taken on a new role to work more closely with quarterback Kenny Pickett, it is news to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ third-year offensive coordinator. Canada said Thursday that there has been no change his role in overseeing Pickett’s development this season. “Nothing at all,” he said. “I’m...

As they prepare to face a team dealing with numerous injuries on the offensive line, the Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with issues of their own up front. Three members of the offensive line did not practice Wednesday, including two with injuries. Right guard James Daniels (groin) and right tackle Chuks...

A byproduct of the improved running game the Pittsburgh Steelers displayed Sunday night against the Las Vegas Raiders was the ability for quarterback Kenny Pickett to use more play-action passes. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada dialed up eight such plays in the 23-18 victory at Allegiant Stadium, none more important than...

Jaylen Warren would like to clear up a misconception about the $48,556 fine he received from the NFL for lowering his helmet when he made contact with Cleveland safety Juan Thornhill in Week 2. The amount didn’t add up to one game check that the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second-year running back...

It wasn’t just that the Pittsburgh Steelers went on the road last weekend and won for second consecutive time that impressed coach Mike Tomlin. It was the way the Steelers played in a 23-18 victory against the Las Vegas Raiders that grabbed his attention. The offense scored two touchdowns —...

Although the Pittsburgh Steelers had an unexpected diversion on their trip home from Las Vegas on Monday morning, coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t want it to be a distraction as his team prepares for another road journey. The Steelers’ charter flight spent about eight hours on the tarmac in Kansas City...

Fresh off the worst two-game stretch of running the ball since early in his rookie season, Najee Harris got together with the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen last week to search for answers. The meeting produced the necessary results. The Steelers didn’t exactly turn back the clock to 1976 when Franco...

LAS VEGAS — In his decorated six-year NFL career, Minkah Fitzpatrick has returned interceptions for touchdowns. He’s taken a few fumbles to the end zone as well. One thing he never has done is register a quarterback sack. For a fleeting moment Sunday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ All-Pro safety appeared...

LAS VEGAS – Mike Tyson was on the field before the game. Lil Wayne performed at halftime. Carrie Underwood and Flavor Flav were shown on the Allegiant Stadium scoreboard, too. The Las Vegas Raiders brought the glitz and glamour to their Sunday night encounter. The Pittsburgh Steelers brought their hard...