Joe Rutter stories, Page 54

Ben Roethlisberger answered each time in the affirmative when asked this week whether he was nervous or excited about what awaits the Pittsburgh Steelers offense Sunday in Buffalo. Matt Canada, on the other hand, called it just another day at the office. No matter the perspective of a veteran quarterback...

With the season opener just three days away, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally made outside linebacker T.J. Watt the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. According to a NFL Network report, the Steelers and Watt agreed Thursday to a four-year deal worth $112 million and includes $80 million in guaranteed money....

The Pittsburgh Steelers could be without one of their starting outside linebackers Sunday when they open the season at the Buffalo Bills. The thing is, it’s not T.J. Watt. While Watt practiced Thursday for the second day in a row while negotiations continue on a long-term contract extension, second-year outside...

Another day, another Pittsburgh Steelers captain stumping for All-Pro outside linebacker T.J. Watt to get his long-awaited, long-term contract finalized. On Thursday, it was defensive tackle Cam Heyward’s turn to throw his support behind Watt in his negotiations on a contract that likely will make the 26-year-old pass rusher the...

The first injury report released for the Pittsburgh Steelers in advance of their season opener contained three starters. Center Kendrick Green (thumb) and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin) were limited participants. Nose tackle Tyson Alualu did not participate because of an elbow injury. Those injuries meant more work for players...

The wait for T.J. Watt to practice with his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates finally ended Wednesday. The veteran outside linebacker, whose previous on-field work since training camp opened was limited to individual drills while negotiations continue on a long-term contract extension, took part in his first full practice as the Steelers...

The highest-paid player in Pittsburgh Steelers history wants T.J. Watt to join him at the upper echelon of the tax bracket. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday that Watt, who is engaged on a mega-contract extension with the franchise, deserves to be the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player. “I think T.J. should...

As many as five members of the Pittsburgh Steelers draft class will start or be regular contributors Sunday when they open the season at the Buffalo Bills. It’s an unusually high number of rookies to start for any team, let alone one coming off a division championship and 12-4 record....

When the Pittsburgh Steelers ramp up practice Wednesday in preparation for the season opener Sunday at Buffalo, coach Mike Tomlin expects outside linebacker T.J. Watt to take part in it. Watt hasn’t practiced in a 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 capacity during the entire offseason or preseason while awaiting a new contract...

New Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon recently earned his undergraduate degree in ecological and evolutionary biology from Colorado, and he wants to become a doctor. Those plans, however, are on the back burner. He has more immediate matters at hand as a football player. “I’m putting my degree on hold...

When the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Chris Wormley to a two-year contract in March, they thought they were keeping a second free agent defensive linemen from departing in free agency. Two days earlier, Tyson Alualu had agreed to terms on a two-year contract to return to Jacksonville, where he spent the...

Tunch Ilkin, the former broadcaster and tackle whose hard-nosed play on the football field was matched by his kindness and generosity off it, died Saturday after a year-long fight with ALS, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced. He was 63. Ilkin had a four-decade association with the Steelers, the first 13 as...

Zach Banner’s return to the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup after a torn ACL will have to wait at least three weeks once the regular season begins. Same goes for Anthony McFarland and Stephon Tuitt. All three were placed on injured reserve Wednesday, meaning they will miss at least the season opener...

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally confirmed Wednesday that defensive end Stephon Tuitt is dealing with more than the tragic death of his younger brother this offseason. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler said Tuitt has been bothered by a knee injury, and the eighth-year veteran is a “little bit overweight” from his recent...

Karl Joseph, the former West Virginia safety who was a first-round pick of the then-Oakland Raiders in 2016, was one of 15 players the Pittsburgh Steelers signed to their practice squad Wednesday. Joseph, 27, spent his first four seasons with the Raiders and was in their training camp this season...

After approaching the Pittsburgh Steelers about a contract extension last month, veteran cornerback Joe Haden changed his mind and will test free agency in 2022. Haden’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN on Wednesday morning that his client now wants to play out his contract and see what the market holds...

In formulating their initial 53-man roster, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to carry an equal number of offensive and defensive linemen and defensive backs. Eight players will occupy each of those position groups based on the roster moves that transpired Tuesday. Eight rookies also survived the final cut. The Steelers released...

With Zach Banner’s availability for the season opener in question, the Pittsburgh Steelers tipped their hand in practice Monday about how they might replace him against the Buffalo Bills in 13 days. Chuks Okorafor took snaps at right tackle, the position he started for 15 games last season after Banner...

One day after he muffed two punts, one of which resulted in a lost fumble, Mathew Sexton was among nine players cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers also cut tight end Marcus Baugh, running back Tony Brooks-James, cornerback Shakur Brown, defensive tackle T.J. Carter, wide receiver Anthony Johnson, cornerback...

As evidenced by the preseason workload, the Pittsburgh Steelers plan to count heavily on their rookie class in 2021. Four draft picks either started or assumed significant roles on offense in the four weeks of tuneup games. Najee Harris will start at running back, and Kendrick Green will open the...

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The experiment of what might transpire when one NFL team plays many of its starters and the other primarily uses backups was on display Friday night at Bank of America Stadium. While the Pittsburgh Steelers rested their core group with the regular season still 16 days away,...

The last time Dwayne Haskins started an NFL game, he faced the Carolina Panthers and was pulled in the fourth quarter. Circumstances will be similar for Haskins on Friday night. He is starting against Carolina — this time as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers — and he could spend...

Dwayne Haskins will get to face a first-team defense, but rookie running back Najee Harris won’t when the Pittsburgh Steelers conclude the preseason schedule Friday night against the Carolina Panthers. Coach Mike Tomlin announced Wednesday that Haskins, the former first-round draft pick of Washington in 2019, will start at quarterback...

Rivals in the AFC North on the field, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre are family away from it. Jackson and Pierre grew up in neighboring communities along the Atlantic coast of Florida: Jackson in Pompano Beach; Pierre six miles away in Deerfield Beach. Pierre...