Joe Rutter stories, Page 88

Mike Tomlin used the word “spark” three times in his postgame interview Sunday to describe what backup quarterback Devlin Hodges brought to the Pittsburgh Steelers offense against the Cincinnati Bengals. Two days later, at his weekly news conference, Tomlin dropped six more references to the “spark” that Hodges provided as...

Mark Barron made Thanksgiving a little more memorable for residents of his Alabama hometown when 1,500 turkeys were distributed to families last Saturday. The Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker’s only regret was he couldn’t be there in person to take in the moment. The turkey drive in Prichard, Ala., coincided with...

Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster sat out another practice Thursday, his fifth in a row for the Pittsburgh Steelers since injuring his knee and sustaining a concussion Nov. 14 at Cleveland. With the Steelers having just one more day of practice before the rematch against the Browns on Sunday at Heinz...

Since he established his charitable foundation in 2015, Cameron Heyward has set a modest goal, one that also could serve as his motto on the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Each year,” he said, “we’ve challenged ourselves to do a little more.” Heyward hopes incremental success — individually as a...

Five Pittsburgh Steelers players lead their respective positions in Pro Bowl balloting that was released Wednesday afternoon. Outside linebacker T.J. Watt is the leading vote-getter among all Steelers players, collecting 118,517 votes. Also leading in voting on defense for the Steelers are rookie inside linebacker Devin Bush (70,171 votes), defensive...

The Pittsburgh Steelers began their practice week for the AFC North rematch against the Cleveland Browns with left tackle Alejandro Villanueva only being involved on a limited basis with a shoulder injury. Villanueva was not listed among the injured players Tuesday when coach Mike Tomlin conducted his weekly press conference....

Considering the way the Pittsburgh Steelers’ previous game against the Cleveland Browns ended — with Myles Garrett swinging Mason Rudolph’s helmet at the quarterback’s unprotected head — it’s reasonable for the NFL to take preventive measures to ensure tempers don’t flare Sunday when the teams meet again at Heinz Field....

For a team beset by injuries for most of the season, it was a positive for the Pittsburgh Steelers that they came out of their game Sunday in Cincinnati without adding to their already expansive total. Coach Mike Tomlin said that aside from normal “bumps and bruises,” the Steelers did...

Three former members of the Pittsburgh Steelers are among the 25 semifinalists of Modern-Era candidates for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Wide receiver Hines Ward, guard Alan Faneca and safety Troy Polamalu were among the candidates who made the cut from 122 nominees to the 25 semifinalists,...

The NFL made sure two of the three main participants in the fight near the end of the first meeting between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns wouldn’t play in the rematch Sunday at Heinz Field. Mason Rudolph perhaps took the third participant out of the equation with his play...

Five things we learned from Steelers 16, Bengals 10: ••• 1. No Conner, no worries Using a rotation that featured all four running backs at various stages of the game, the Steelers rushed for a season-high 160 yards against the Bengals, who also happen to have the NFL’s worst run...

CINCINNATI — Devin Bush has found himself out of position at times in pass coverage in his rookie season, but he made a play after the catch Sunday that showed why the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to the No. 10 overall spot to select the former Michigan inside linebacker. Bush...

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph was fined $50,000 for his fight with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett in the waning moments of their game Nov. 14 at FirstEnergy Stadium. Rudolph tussled with Garrett with eight seconds remaining in the Steelers’ 21-7 loss. Garrett took Rudolph to the ground after...

It is increasingly likely the Pittsburgh Steelers will face the winless Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday without two of their starting skill position players. Running back James Conner (shoulder) and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion/knee) did not practice Thursday for the second day in a row. The 5-5 Steelers have just...

The sight of Diontae Johnson on the practice field Wednesday, less than a week after he suffered a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Cleveland Browns, was a welcome one for Pittsburgh Steelers teammate James Washington. “It was good to see that,” Washington said. “He’s an asset to us....

Tuzar Skipper never wanted to leave the Pittsburgh Steelers, so you can imagine his elation when they brought him back to the organization this week. For the first time in two-and-a-half months, Skipper had a locker at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, and he made his feelings evident as he talked...

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked Tuesday at his weekly news conference whether the organization considered sending a scout to Atlanta on Saturday to attend free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s workout. The Steelers were not among the 25 teams the NFL said were planning to attend the workout, which...

It took 11 weeks into the NFL season for the Pittsburgh Steelers to bring linebacker Tuzar Skipper back to their 53-man roster. Skipper, who was lost on a waiver claim to the New York Giants after the first week of games, returned to the Steelers on Tuesday when defensive end...

His Pro Bowl wide receiver and team MVP has a knee injury in addition to a concussion. One of his other starting receivers also is concussed. His Pro Bowl running back aggravated a shoulder injury that already kept him out for two weeks. His All-Pro center is facing a three-game...