Joe Rutter stories, Page 90

Unlike the most famous catch in Pittsburgh Steelers franchise history, it doesn’t have a clever nickname. In NFL annals, it’s simply known by the terminology from the playbook: 60 Prevent Slot Hook and Go. Without it, the Pittsburgh Steelers might not have celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Super Bowl...

When they convened this weekend to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Super Bowl XIV, members of the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers had no shortage of memories to discuss. They could talk about how they were the first team to win four Super Bowls and the only one to win it in...

Running back James Conner and guard Ramon Foster were downgraded on the Pittsburgh Steelers injury report Thursday with neither offensive starter participating in practice. Conner (shoulder) and Foster (concussion) were limited in practice Wednesday but did not get on the field Thursday. Conner’s setback complicates the running back situation for...

Could the Pittsburgh Steelers be preparing for a shakeup on the offensive line heading into their game Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams? Matt Feiler confirmed Thursday he practiced at left guard for the second day in a row, and second-year lineman Chuks Okorafor said he took first-team reps at...

Running back James Conner returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they began preparations for their game Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams at Heinz Field. Conner, the team’s leading rusher and second-leading receiver, did not practice last week and was inactive against the...

When he stepped to the podium for his weekly news conference, Mike Tomlin was up front about the need for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play better, well, up front. Despite the Steelers coming off a third consecutive victory, they allowed too many rushing yards and didn’t gain enough — at...

Like anyone in their golden years with a lifetime of memories — and boxes filled with mementos to show for it — Rocky Bleier got tired of the clutter. Even if he had a collection of memorabilia that would make most 73-year-old men envious, from Super Bowl apparel to college...

Taking advantage of a bye week, Aaron Donald left the West Coast and returned to the South Side last week to spend time around the Pitt football program that helped mold him into arguably the NFL’s most dominant defensive player. Donald was talking to players outside UPMC Rooney Sports Complex...

Inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert’s rookie year is over at the midpoint of the Pittsburgh Steelers season. Gilbert was placed on injured reserve Tuesday because of recurring back problems. Linebacker Robert Spillane was promoted from the practice squad to take Gilbert’s spot on the 53-man roster. Gilbert missed the team’s game...

JuJu Smith-Schuster is on pace statistically for a season that resembles his rookie year and not a progression from 2018 when he had 111 catches, 1,426 yards and made the Pro Bowl. As long as the Pittsburgh Steelers keep winning games — and they will try for their fourth in...

After missing one game with a shoulder injury, running back James Conner could return Sunday for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he expects Conner, the team’s leading rusher with 380 yards and its second-leading receiver, to practice this week, which could clear the way for him...

Randy Fichtner not only wants his starting wide receivers catching bunches of passes, he apparently wants them to wear capes while doing it. The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator used a superhero analogy Thursday to describe what is needed to succeed at wide receiver these days in the pass-happy NFL. “You...

Steelers linebacker Anthony Chickillo was removed from the NFL commissioner’s exempt list Thursday, allowing him to return to practice. Chickillo, 26, was arrested Oct. 20 by state police on accusations he assaulted his girlfriend at Nemacolin Woodlands in Wharton Township. The NFL placed Chickillo on the reserve/commissioner exempt list three...

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gotten creative with how they have used running back Jaylen Samuels this season. He has lined up wide, in the slot, inline as a tight end and even behind center in the wildcat formation. He has caught and thrown passes. And, yes, he has carried the...

Despite Mason Rudolph’s poor start that resulted in a non-existent passer rating after the first quarter Monday night, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had no intention of having backup Devlin Hodges begin warming up for possible relief duty. Tomlin made that clear Tuesday at his weekly press conference when he...

The first of 10 games the Pittsburgh Steelers will play without Stephon Tuitt featured an outside-the-box way of filling his spot in defensive subpackages. Linebacker Vince Williams was used as a de facto defensive lineman in some pass-rushing situations in the Steelers’ 27-14 victory against the Miami Dolphins. Cameron Heyward...

The last time the Pittsburgh Steelers faced quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the phenomenon known as “FitzMagic” was all the rage in Tampa Bay. No wonder. In the first two games of the 2018 season, Fitzpatrick passed for 417 and 402 yards, respectively, to lead the Buccaneers to a 2-0 start. The...