Joe Rutter stories, Page 32

The Pittsburgh Steelers have started the same five players on the offensive line for every game this season. Based on what transpired Thursday in practice, that streak could continue for another week, although there could be a change at one of the backup guard positions. Starter Kevin Dotson was limited...

DeMarvin Leal doesn’t know exactly how he injured his knee in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. He just knows it continued to bother him the next two times he practiced, and the result was an unexpected trip to injured reserve. One day after returning to practice, the Pittsburgh Steelers...

On the day he turned 26, Minkah Fitzpatrick celebrated his birthday by practicing with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates. It wasn’t just any ordinary practice for the two-time All-Pro free safety. It was his first since undergoing an appendectomy five days earlier. After practice — he was a full participant —...

For just the second time since he became the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kenny Pickett directed multiple touchdown drives inside the red zone Sunday in a 20-10 victory against New Orleans. The first came in Pickett’s pro debut in Week 4, when he scored on a pair of...

The evolution of the offensive line took a step forward Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers had their highest rushing total in six years in a 20-10 victory against the New Orleans Saints. Led by Najee Harris’ season-high 99 yards and a career-best 51 from rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, the Steelers...

Robert Spillane had been waiting for the chance to play every snap in an NFL game. Until Sunday, the opportunity had never presented itself for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fifth-year inside linebacker. That’s not unusual considering Spillane is third linebacker in the Steelers rotation and had started only 11 of 44...

Five things we learned from Steelers 20, Saints 10: 1. Pickett’s charge Kenny Pickett produced a 79.7 passer rating against the Saints that, if it represented his number for the entire season, would rank No. 31 among NFL quarterbacks. Alas, it merely lifted Pickett’s season rating to 68.8, which rates...

On a day of firsts for the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett got his first win in a game that he started and finished, and coach Mike Tomlin beat the New Orleans Saints for the first time in four tries. Not to be overlooked was the Steelers also getting...

Louis Lipps is grateful for the second chance to have his NFL career recognized by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Pro Bowl wide receiver was supposed to be feted a year ago as a member of the 2021 Hall of Honor Class. Then, about a week before the ceremony, he...

To paraphrase the closing line from the movie “The Silence of the Lambs”, the Pittsburgh Steelers are having an old friend for lunch Sunday. It’s not hyperbole to suggest that when the Steelers get together with Andy Dalton, they feast on him the way Hannibal Lecter does his dining companions....

On a day when the Pittsburgh Steelers activated outside linebacker T.J. Watt from injured reserve, they announced free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick won’t play Sunday because of appendicitis. Fitzpatrick had an appendectomy Saturday after experiencing discomfort in his right side during the team’s walk-through in the morning, a source told the...

After being heavily involved in the passing game in his rookie season, running back Najee Harris has seen that role decrease significantly at the midpoint of his second year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the bye week, Harris approached offensive coordinator Matt Canada about returning to what worked last season....

The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a change to the composition of their offensive line when they play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. Left guard Kevin Dotson is listed as questionable with an abdomen injury after being a limited participant in practice Friday. Dotson has started all...

The Pittsburgh Steelers still must make the transaction official before 4 p.m. Saturday. That’s the deadline they face to activate outside linebacker T.J. Watt from injured reserve so he can dress Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. It appears to be a formality. Watt acknowledged Friday he will make his...

The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the clock Thursday and activated veteran safety Damontae Kazee from injured reserve. Kazee spent the first nine weeks of the season on injured reserve with a forearm/wrist injury that he sustained in the final preseason game. Kazee was designated to return three weeks ago, and if...

Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi predicted he would be healthy enough to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, and he took a step in that direction at practice Thursday. Ogunjobi, who missed the Oct. 30 loss at Philadelphia with a knee injury, was limited in...

While two veteran cornerbacks didn’t practice Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Steelers, another was a full participant and could return for the team’s game Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Levi Wallace, who did not play in the Steelers’ 35-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Oct. 13 because of a...

For the first time in four weeks, the Steelers play at Acrisure Stadium when they face the New Orleans Saints. They will look to snap a two-game losing streak following road defeats to Miami and Philadelphia. Here is a look at their Week 10 opponent: The basics Coach: Dennis Allen,...

In a move that indicates kicker Chris Boswell’s groin injury is a lingering issue, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Matthew Wright to the 53-man roster Wednesday. Wright had been on the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad. By signing Wright, the Steelers must keep him on the 53-man roster for at least...

With the NFL expanding its season to 17 games a year ago, a running back needs to average just 59 yards a game if he is going to produce a 1,000-yard season. Najee Harris is averaging 45 in his second year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a pace that would put...

The spending spree was unprecedented but not entirely unexpected for the Pittsburgh Steelers. After decades of watching other teams lavishly spend on free agents, a confluence of events allowed the franchise to be active participants in 2022. For the first time in recent memory, the Steelers entered the offseason with...

One of the fastest players in the 2016 NFL Draft class, William Jackson III isn’t showing any signs of slowing down seven years into his pro career. At least not off the field. After being traded Tuesday by the Washington Commanders to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jackson hopped in a car...

With one word, coach Mike Tomlin ended any speculation that he might change offensive coordinators during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ bye week. “No,” Tomlin said when asked Wednesday whether any staff changes were forthcoming. He did not elaborate. Second-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s job performance has come under question with the...

One moment he was on the practice field at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex catching passes as the Pittsburgh Steelers went through their first workout of the bye week. The next, Chase Claypool was on his way to joining the Chicago Bears. About an hour after practice concluded early Tuesday afternoon,...