Joe Rutter stories, Page 82
Matt Feiler, Robert Spillane return to practice for Steelers; Tyson Alualu, Vince Williams sit out
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...
Despite short playoff absence, Mike Tomlin appreciates what’s ahead for Steelers
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...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin says Matt Feiler, Robert Spillane could be available for start of playoffsVideo
As coach Mike Tomlin prepares for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff opener Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, he does so knowing he might get a starting left guard and inside linebacker back from injured reserve. Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference guard Matt Feiler and inside linebacker Robert Spillane...
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, 2 assistants, 2 players test positive for covid-19
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...
Steelers’ exec Omar Khan interviews for Houston Texans GM vacancy
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...
Baker Mayfield’s scrambling presents another challenge for Steelers in playoff rematch with Browns
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...
5 things we learned: Rudolph enjoys deep connection with Steelers receivers
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...
Alex Highsmith gets 1 of 4 sacks for Steelers in season finale against Browns
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...
Steelers lose regular-season finale to Browns; playoff rematch awaits
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...
Steelers’ Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, Maurkice Pouncey out vs. Browns
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...
After experiencing illness, injury, Steelers guard Kevin Dotson looking for stability at end of rookie season
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...
Steelers kicker Chris Boswell misses practice again because of groin injury
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...
Chase Claypool searches for strong finish for Steelers
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....
Unless state orders change, Steelers won’t sell tickets to public for home playoff opener
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...
Steelers rest key starters to open practice week ahead of game against Browns
Three players who missed the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game against the Indianapolis Colts returned to practice Wednesday when the team began on-field work for the season finale at Cleveland. Kicker Chris Boswell (groin), linebacker/safety Marcus Allen (stinger) and linebacker Ola Adeniyi (shoulder) were full practice participants. Coach Mike Tomlin said that...
Ben Roethlisberger ready to support Mason Rudolph in Steelers’ finale against Browns
Ben Roethlisberger won’t be in the huddle Sunday in Cleveland. Where he will be is on the practice field this week, on the sideline against the Cleveland Browns and in the ear of Mason Rudolph as the Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback makes his first start of the season. With the...
Year in Review: Pandemic-altered 2020 Pittsburgh sports seasons won’t soon be forgotten
When historians proclaim 2020 as a sports year unlike any other, no hyperbole will be attached to such sentiment. The coronavirus pandemic that affected so many lives across the world also drastically altered the sports landscape, causing major events to be canceled or postponed and impacting athletes from the professional...
Mason Rudolph to get shot against Browns while Steelers rest Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph will return to the site of HelmetGate on Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Cleveland. His turn at quarterback isn’t based on a chance for redemption after he was clubbed on the head with his helmet courtesy of Browns defensive end Myles Garrett the last time the Steelers...
Mike Tomlin explains decision to let clock run late in 1st half of Steelers’ win against Colts
With the Pittsburgh Steelers trailing by 14 points late in the first half Sunday, Mike Tomlin was shaken when his defense gave up a 68-yard screen pass that could have set up the Indianapolis Colts for another score. No matter that the big gain was called back because of a...
Mike Tomlin: NFL has contacted Steelers about players not wearing masks in postgame dance video
Could the Pittsburgh Steelers become the latest team to be punished by the NFL for players not wearing masks during a postgame celebration? Coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged Tuesday that the organization has heard from the league about a celebration dance video that was posted by wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin announces Mason Rudolph as starting QB against BrownsVideo
Mason Rudolph will be the starting quarterback Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers return to Cleveland for the first time since the helmet-swinging fiasco marred the end of their game at FirstEnergy Stadium in November 2019. Rudolph will replace starter Ben Roethlisberger, who is being rested until the start of the...
5 things we learned: T.J. Watt making strong push for NFL defensive player of year awardVideo
Five things we learned from Steelers 28, Colts 24: 1. Award season It isn’t known whether outside linebacker T.J. Watt will play much — if at all — in the season finale at Cleveland on Sunday. With the AFC North title decided and the Steelers guaranteed of finishing no lower...
Long wait to clinch AFC North title ends for Steelers with win vs. Colts
The boxes of hats and T-shirts signifying an AFC North championship finally came out of storage Sunday afternoon for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rallying from a 17-point second-half deficit, the Steelers used three touchdown passes from Ben Roethlisberger to defeat the Indianapolis Colts, 28-24, at Heinz Field and clinch the team’s...
Steelers rally past Colts, clinch AFC North
With the Steelers careening to a fourth consecutive loss and all of the usual factors at play — dropped passes, short-yardage failures and little first-half offense — a Christmas miracle happened Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field. Trailing by 17 points and looking as lifeless as a holiday tree without water,...
Groin injury to sideline kicker Chris Boswell; Steelers promote Matthew Wright
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a new kicker and reduced depth at two linebacker positions Sunday when they play the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field. Kicker Chris Boswell was one of three players downgraded to out Saturday. He will miss the game, his second of the season, because of a...
