Joe Rutter stories, Page 33

Defensive captain Cameron Heyward talked of a “dysfunction” in the way the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing. Offensive captain Najee Harris said the Steelers lack “discipline” and “accountability.” Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett thought the offense needs to “study more” as a group. If Chuck Noll were still alive, he’d likely rekindle...

Five things we learned from Eagles 35, Steelers 13: 1. False alarm In his postgame interview, Najee Harris asserted that the Steelers must lead the NFL in pre-snap penalties. He made that proclamation after the Steelers offense was charged with four such infractions against the Eagles, including three on one...

PHILADELPHIA — The first time the Pittsburgh Steelers offense was on the field Sunday, it lost 7 yards in three plays before punting. To rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett, those physical shortcomings were easier to digest than the mistakes that took place on the next series. And the Steelers scored a...

PHILADELPHIA — The results were as predictable as a little kid getting frightened inside a haunted house. In a game fittingly played on Halloween weekend, the Pittsburgh Steelers visited their personal little shop of horrors on the other side of the state and had their secondary picked apart like a...

With Chris Boswell unavailable because of a groin injury he suffered late in the week, the Steelers are turning to a kicker they had compete in training camp. Nick Sciba, a rookie free agent, was signed to the practice squad and then elevated to the 53-man roster Saturday. He will...

The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers won a game in Philadelphia, Lyndon Johnson was president, the song that topped the music charts was “Yesterday” by the Beatles, and the United States was still almost four years away from putting a man on the moon. The date was Oct. 24, 1965....

T.J. Watt is leaving open the possibility of returning to the Pittsburgh Steelers in time for their game Sunday against the 6-0 Philadelphia Eagles. The veteran outside linebacker practiced Friday with the Steelers, raising the likelihood he could be activated from injured reserve before the team’s bye week. “I don’t...

Cameron Heyward talked Thursday about the opposing quarterback’s mobility, his skill at dissecting defenses as a run-pass option threat, his accurate arm and the bevy of young wide receivers in his arsenal of playmakers Heyward could have been reviewing the Pittsburgh Steelers’ previous game, the 16-10 loss to the Miami...

A week after he was hit in the eye by a Kenny Pickett pass, Steven Sims strained his hamstring on an 89-yard kickoff return — the longest in Pittsburgh Steelers history that didn’t result in a touchdown. That’s the type of luck Sims has endured trying to earn a regular...

Despite his offense sitting near or at the bottom of the NFL rankings in yards, points and yards per play, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to make any further changes with his starters or coaches. “I don’t feel like I’m there,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news...

Kenny Pickett had his first true chance at directing a fourth-quarter comeback for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium. That Pickett didn’t get the job done in a 16-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins didn’t diminish coach Mike Tomlin’s faith in his rookie quarterback’s ability to...

No sacks. No interceptions. For all of the good the Pittsburgh Steelers defense did over the final three quarters of a 16-10 loss Sunday night to the Miami Dolphins, it failed to make the type of splash plays that coach Mike Tomlin expects from his group. Again. Not only didn’t...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — It was a game Mike Tomlin thought the Pittsburgh Steelers literally let slip through their fingers. On a day when Kenny Pickett, making his first prime time start, threw three interceptions, the Steelers defense had four chances to pick off passes and came away empty-handed in...

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — As he nears a return from injured reserve, outside linebacker T.J. Watt took part in about a 40-minute workout before the Pittsburgh Steelers’ prime-time matchup Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Dolphins. Watt did agility drills that focused on running and cutting. Watt...

Barry Pearson wasn’t fooled. Trouble was, the other members of the Pittsburgh Steelers special teams unit were. And because of that collective gaffe, the complexion of the 1972 AFC championship game changed. On Sunday night, the Miami Dolphins will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their undefeated season, the festivities coinciding...

Brian Flores told a Pittsburgh Steelers spokesman this week that he was politely declining interview requests since the questions almost assuredly would focus on his high-profile return to Miami and his unresolved civil suit that involves the Dolphins, his former employer. Flores apparently has extended that ban to the Steelers...

Kenny Pickett took the first step toward reclaiming his starting job as Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback when he was a full practice participant Wednesday. Coach Mike Tomlin has said Pickett will start Sunday night against the Miami Dolphins if the rookie first-round draft pick is cleared from concussion protocol. While Pickett...

While unwilling to provide details, wide receiver Diontae Johnson said Wednesday that he and quarterback Mitch Trubisky talked “man to man” and are fine after a reported argument between the Pittsburgh Steelers teammates at halftime of the Oct. 2 game against the New York Jets. Johnson reportedly was upset he...

Given the opponent on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ schedule this week, Brian Flores’ civil lawsuit that involves the Miami Dolphins is bound to be a storyline ahead of the matchup Sunday night in South Florida. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wants no part of it. At his weekly press conference Tuesday, Tomlin...

Mike Tomlin is proceeding with Kenny Pickett as the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback Sunday night in Miami, ending any talk of a brewing controversy before it gathers momentum. Tomlin’s decision comes with a caveat. Pickett, the rookie first-round pick from Pitt, must be released from concussion protocol before he can...

The names Jackson, Wilson and Riley would have the makings of a reputable law firm if those three men already didn’t have jobs as professional football players. Until Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers fans could be forgiven if they didn’t realize the trio of Josh Jackson, Quincy Wilson and Elijah Riley held...

Five things we learned from Steelers 20, Buccaneers 18: 1. Cut to the chase Not only did Chase Claypool catch the touchdown pass — the first by a Steelers receiver this year — that provided a 20-12 lead in the fourth quarter, he had a pair of third-down grabs on...

Facing the most decorated quarterback in NFL history, the Pittsburgh Steelers trotted out a defense that was missing four veteran defensive backs, including three starters. The league’s reigning defensive player of the year was on the sideline, too. Tom Brady not only was playing against a depleted secondary, he was...

The obstacles facing the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary Sunday are tantamount to trying to climb Mt. Everest in tennis shoes. Four of the top six defensive backs won’t suit up because of injury, leaving the Steelers to start two unproven players at cornerback and deploy a safety tandem that won’t include...