Joe Rutter stories, Page 72
With Stephon Tuitt on IR, Chris Wormley ready to step up, take on bigger role in Steelers defense
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...
Former Steeler, broadcaster Tunch Ilkin dies after fight with ALS
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...
Right tackle Zach Banner among 3 Steelers players placed on injured reserve
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...
Knee injury latest setback for Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt
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...
Steelers add former 1st-round pick Karl Joseph of WVU to practice squad
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...
Joe Haden reverses course, wants to test free agency in 2022 rather than get extension from Steelers
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...
Steelers deep on defensive linemen, short on opposite side after cutdown to 53 players
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...
Dan Moore shifts left, Chuks Okorafor right as Steelers make alternate tackle plans
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...
WR/PR Mathew Sexton among 9 players trimmed from Steelers’ roster
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...
Rookie class could make impact on Steelers’ 53-man roster
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...
Dwayne Haskins struggles as Steelers conclude preseason with loss at Carolina
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,...
Dwayne Haskins relishing chance to start for Steelers in preseason finale
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...
Mike Tomlin will keep Mason Rudolph, Najee Harris on bench in Steelers’ preseason finale
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...
Steelers’ James Pierre trying to become 2nd member of extended family to make impact in AFC North
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...
With preseason winding down, Cam Sutton may be only option for Steelers at nickel corner spot
The Pittsburgh Steelers view the versatile Cam Sutton as the best option to fill the slot cornerback position this season. Sutton also happens to be — with the final preseason game fast approaching — the only option for the job. Entering training camp, veteran free agent Arthur Maulet and second-year...
Joe Haden not worried about slowing down as he enters 12th NFL season, 5th with Steelers
Although Cameron Heyward gets teased by his teammates about being the old man on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, he is younger than three other players on that side of the ball. One is cornerback Joe Haden, who is 22 days older than the Pro Bowl defensive tackle. Haden, though, has...
Red zone is comfort zone for Steelers’ rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth
Pat Freiermuth missed by a year the chance to make money off his name, image and likeness rights in college at Penn State. The 6-foot-5 tight end is learning quickly, however, about the best way to profit in the NFL. It’s by making big and, at times, difficult catches in...
Ben Roethlisberger shines in debut with new offense; Steelers win
Ben Roethlisberger’s first try at running offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s offense couldn’t have gone better for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nothing beats perfection, right? When Roethlisberger departed after three series in the Steelers’ 26-20 preseason victory Saturday night against the Detroit Lions, he had a perfect 158.3 passer rating. With a...
Ben Roethlisberger embraces chance to play in front of fans at Heinz Field after dismal end to 2020 season
The lasting memory of Ben Roethlisberger’s previous game at Heinz Field was of him sitting on the bench with Maurkice Pouncey, the two teammates soaking in the bitter disappointment of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 48-37 loss to the Cleveland Browns in an AFC wild-card game. Pouncey retired a month later. Roethlisberger...
Mike Tomlin says Joe Schobert ‘adapting quickly’ to Steelers defense
Not only will quarterback Ben Roethlisberger make his preseason debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers, inside linebacker Joe Schobert will see his first game action of any kind with his new team Saturday against the Detroit Lions. Schobert, who was acquired a week ago from the Jacksonville Jaguars, will start when...
Inside the ropes: Cam Sutton gets 1st look as slot corner as Steelers expand search for starter
On a day when Antoine Brooks Jr. returned to practice for the first time since the Hall of Fame Game, the Pittsburgh Steelers worked Cam Sutton occasionally at the slot cornerback position Wednesday. Brooks took first-team snaps and rotated with veteran Arthur Maulet in the first two weeks of training...
Amid trade report, James Washington trying to carve out bigger role in Steelers offense
A minor ankle injury to Chase Claypool provided James Washington the chance to work with the Pittsburgh Steelers first-team offense in practice Wednesday. Opportunities to get such reps with the starters have been few and far between for the fourth-year receiver and former second-round draft choice. It’s the reason reports...
Matt Canada ready for first glimpse of Ben Roethlisberger running Steelers offense
The concepts that first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada has introduced to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be put on display Saturday night at Heinz Field. Sure, it will be a scaled-back version of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense that Roethlisberger runs when he makes his preseason debut against the Detroit Lions. The...
Steelers cut kicker Sam Sloman, 4 others in 1st round of roster trimming
Kicker Sam Sloman, who missed an extra point and field goal in two preseason games, was among five players cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers roster on Tuesday. The Steelers had to get to the 85-player limit by 4 p.m. Also cut were wide receiver Isaiah McKoy, tackle Brandon Walton, defensive...
Analysis: Kevin Colbert not taking usual patient approach to adding pieces to Steelers roster
In the preceding five seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert didn’t shy away from making moves in training camp that would add starters or role players to his team’s roster. Often, Colbert worked from a position of patience and deliberation. He typically would wait to see how the preseason...
