Joe Rutter stories, Page 64

Like much of the success on the football field, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offseason will depend on the quarterback. Whether Ben Roethlisberger returns for an 18th season will be the biggest issue the Steelers face as they begin plotting a course for 2021. Beyond the franchise’s quarterback’s declining play down the...

A day after their season ended with a 48-37 upset loss to the Cleveland Browns in an AFC wild-card game, the Pittsburgh Steelers closed UPMC Rooney Sports Complex because of covid-19 concerns. “We have sent home our coaching staff, players and other staff members out of caution after we had...

Five things we learned from Browns 48, Steelers 37: 1. Slip sliding away Once a team known for strong finishes, the Steelers experienced a late-season collapse for the third season in a row. In 2018, it was four losses in a five-game stretch that resulted in the Steelers missing the...

It wasn’t supposed to end this way. Not after they won a franchise-record 11 consecutive games to start the season. Not against a team making its first playoff appearance in 18 years. Not to the Cleveland Browns, who hadn’t won any game at Heinz Field since 2003, and didn’t have...

The Steelers activated two players from injured reserve, as expected, and elevated tight end Kevin Rader from the practice squad a day ahead of their AFC wild-card game against the Cleveland Browns. Guard Matt Feiler and inside linebacker Robert Spillane were activated to the 53-man roster Saturday. They returned to...

Cameron Heyward thought he would have a Super Bowl ring by now. At worst, an appearance. After all, when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2011 draft, the former Ohio State defensive lineman went to a team a few months removed from playing...

The NFL’s third-ranked defense had two players repeat as first-team All-Pros in balloting released Friday by the Associated Press. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick represent the Pittsburgh Steelers on the first team. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward was named to the second team. Watt and Fitzpatrick earned first-team...

The six-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro right guard just spent two games playing two spots away from a rookie fourth-round draft pick. As impressed as David DeCastro was with the play of Kevin Dotson, he welcomes the return of Matt Feiler to the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. After missing...

The Pittsburgh Steelers were denied Thursday in their quest to have fan capacity expanded for their home playoff game Sunday night, meaning friends and family members will be the only ones permitted inside Heinz Field when the team faces the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round. The Steelers were hoping...

When it comes to starting fast, the Pittsburgh Steelers are like the race horse that stumbles out of the gate. Sometimes, they recover with a strong closing kick and get to the wire first. Sometimes, they come up short. Such has been the case for much of the season, and...

Left guard Matt Feiler and inside linebacker Robert Spillane returned to practice Wednesday for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the first step toward their potential return Sunday night against the Cleveland Browns in an AFC wild-card game. Feiler and Spillane remain on injured reserve, and the Steelers have 21 days to activate...

One look at his opponent’s postseason history — or lack thereof — is enough to make coach Mike Tomlin appreciate what awaits the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night in the AFC wild-card round at Heinz Field. While the Steelers are making their ninth playoff appearance and seventh as AFC North...

When the Pittsburgh Steelers open the playoffs Sunday night, they will be facing a short-handed opponent because of covid-19. Five days before the Steelers face Cleveland for the third time this season and second time in eight days, the Browns announced head coach Kevin Stefanski, two of his assistants and...

Omar Khan, the Pittsburgh Steelers vice president of football and business administration, interviewed Monday for the vacant Houston Texans general manager position. The Texans announced the interview on their Twitter account. Khan, 43, has worked for the Steelers since 2001, and he has been responsible for the team’s contract negotiations...

Needing 2 yards for a first down that would clinch the franchise’s first playoff berth in 18 years, the Cleveland Browns didn’t just put the outcome in quarterback Baker Mayfield’s hands. They put it in his feet, too. A designed keeper around the right edge gained 3 yards and enabled...

Five things we learned from Browns 24, Steelers 22: 1. Third time’s the charm For someone who hadn’t started a game in more than a year and had seen only occasional mop-up work, Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph showed deft touch on his deep passes while throwing for a career-best 315...

CLEVELAND — The pressure Alex Highsmith has applied to opposing quarterbacks since replacing Bud Dupree last month paid dividends Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers rookie third-round pick. Although the Steelers lost their regular-season finale, 24-22, to the Cleveland Browns, Highsmith set a career high with nine tackles, and he had...

CLEVELAND — With the backups taking center stage, the Pittsburgh Steelers nearly completed a comeback from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter Sunday before losing to the Cleveland Browns, 24-22, at FirstEnergy Stadium. The varsity will see if it can fare any better next weekend in a rematch at...

Three more Pittsburgh Steelers players were downgraded to out Saturday and will not make the trip to Cleveland for the regular-season finale Sunday against the Browns. Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and center Maurkice Pouncey will not play against the Browns, joining quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, kicker Chris...

For someone who started 52 consecutive games in college, guard Kevin Dotson knew life would be different as a rookie in the NFL. He didn’t expect to win a starting job immediately, not on a veteran offensive line that included a Pro Bowl player at his position. Dotson, though, could...

Kicker Chris Boswell returned to the injury report for the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a groin injury that kept him out of the game against the Indianapolis Colts. Boswell did not practice Thursday after being a full participant one day earlier. If Boswell can’t kick in the season finale against...

A missing piece of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense resurfaced in the second half Sunday and helped contribute to the comeback from the 17-point deficit. Chase Claypool would like to take the momentum he built against the Indianapolis Colts and carry it into the season finale at Cleveland — and beyond....

Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to allow time-limited mitigation orders to expire Monday won’t help the Steelers sell tickets for their home playoff game on the weekend of Jan. 9-10. With the orders reverting back to Dec. 11 standards, the Steelers will be permitted to have 2,500 fans in attendance at...