Steelers/NFL category, Page 294
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans want less criticism of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Dwayne Haskins; Pirates fans want more information
Steelers and Pirates fans get to sound off early this week. Because Labor Day is looming, “Breakfast With Benz” is ending the week a day early. As a result, everything gets moved up and “U mad, bro?” comes your way on a Wednesday. That’s good because the submission box was...
Dan Moore Jr. confident he can start at left tackle if called upon by Steelers
The instruction for rookies goes beyond the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before Dan Moore Jr. had a prescheduled availability with media after Tuesday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, none other than the head coach called Moore over for a discussion that lasted a few minutes. As Moore took...
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...
Steelers’ Cameron Sutton remains prepared to man multiple positions again if needed
Cameron Sutton insists he is just like the rest of us who follow the Pittsburgh Steelers. The fifth-year defensive back says he remains in the dark about what the coaching staff’s plan is for the identity of the nickel DB. “I don’t know yet,” Sutton said late Tuesday morning after...
Former pro and college scout on Steelers tackle Dan Moore Jr.: ‘There is a lot there to work with’
Monday’s Steelers practice featured a reconfigured offensive line because of a possible injury to right tackle Zach Banner. Even before that news, former pro and college scout and Steelers Nation Radio host Matt Williamson told me the Steelers offensive line was already questionable at best. “It’s just so unproven. There’s...
First Call: JuJu Smith-Schuster does milk crate challenge; Steelers teammate optimistic about Stephon Tuitt’s return
In Tuesday’s “First Call,” an update on Stephon Tuitt from one of his fellow Steelers defensive linemen. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster couldn’t avoid the milk crate challenge. Fallout continues in Baltimore after the injury to running back J.K. Dobbins. And the Pirates are taking on one of the league’s best...
Tim Benz: ‘Dwayne Train’ preseason hype showed a lot of deep-rooted scars for Steelers fans from ugly quarterbacking history
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins’ stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers has gotten off to a decent start. Most days he looked sharp in training camp. Then, during the first three preseason games, he was a lot better than I expected (28 of 42, 271 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 92.5 passer rating)....
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...
Practice fight involves Steelers stars Minkah Fitzpatrick, Chase Claypool
An apparently significant skirmish broke out late during Pittsburgh Steelers practice Monday, several players confirmed, and it involved two high-profile players. The conflict began with Minkah Fitzpatrick and Chase Claypool yelling at each other, guard Kevin Dotson confirmed. “When you come out here and are pretty much fighting the person...
Mark Madden: Steelers will beat disheveled Bills in Week 1
Viva Las Vegas and viva refreshing sports notes! Bet over your head, not with it. • The Steelers will beat host Buffalo in the opener. The constant covid debate surrounding the Bills has them disheveled. The Steelers are all football. Steelers win. You heard it here. • Shouldn’t T.J. Watt...
First Call: Le’Veon Bell, LeSean McCoy among rumored replacements for Ravens’ J.K. Dobbins; safety signings for Steelers to note
A couple of big signings for NFL safeties may impact the Steelers when it comes to Minkah Fitzpatrick’s thinking on his next contract. Yoshi Tsutsugo’s walk-off homer at PNC Park created some widely varying reactions on Sunday. Joe Burrow’s return in Cincinnati was less than memorable. A couple of ex-Pirates...
Madden Monday: Dwayne Haskins will ‘be out of the league’ by 2023
TribLIVE’s Mark Madden didn’t have a particularly enjoyable week. The KISS concert got canceled in Burgettstown. The casino he was at in Las Vegas wouldn’t put on the soccer game he wanted. So someone is going to feel his angst. In this case, it’s Steelers backup quarterback Dwayne Haskins. After...
Tim Benz: Steelers appear to have drafted an impactful rookie class. Now they have to count on it for success in 2021
The Steelers appear to have drafted a very productive class of rookies, many of whom could see extensive playing time in high-leverage situations. On offense, first-round pick Najee Harris will be the featured running back. Third-round selection Kendrick Green should start the year at center. Second-rounder Pat Freiermuth already is...
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...
Heading into final cuts, whose stock is up, down for Steelers
Dwayne Haskins struggled in his first overextended look in a game as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s fair to assume the 2.8 passer rating Haskins held when he was pulled from Friday’s 34-9 loss at the Carolina Panthers did not improve his stock in regards to status on...
Mark Madden Hot Take: Given Steelers’ schedule, betting under 8.5 wins is tempting
I had planned to bet $5,000 on the Steelers to have less than 8½ wins (-134). But the Steelers raised doubt by having a good preseason. But their schedule is daunting. Perhaps I should bet on the Steelers to have less than 9½ wins (-230). That seems like a lock,...
Tim Benz: With preseason games over, Steelers still have 3 big issues to address
For the most part, the Pittsburgh Steelers appeared to have a very positive training camp and a solid preseason. Friday night’s 34-9 dud of a loss to the Carolina Panthers in the preseason finale aside. It appears as if a lot of questions surrounding the team’s depth — and even...
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,...
First Call: What the Steelers can expect in Carolina; rough week for Buffalo Bills; another MLB draft pick injury
Friday’s “First Call” shows us what the Pittsburgh Steelers can expect from the Carolina Panthers in their final preseason game on Friday night. The Buffalo Bills aren’t exactly having the best training camp in advance of their season opener against the Steelers. There is some ironic injury news surrounding the...
Former Central Catholic, Penn State OL Stefen Wisniewski retires from NFLVideo
Former Central Catholic and Penn State standout offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski is calling it a career. The 32-year-old from Pittsburgh announced his retirement from the NFL in a video and statement posted to social media Thursday. “After 10 seasons in the NFL, I’m retiring,” Wisniewski said in the video. “(I)...
5 things to watch in Steelers’ preseason finale vs. Panthers
Jamir Jones, Quincy Roche, Cody White, Rashaad Coward, Mark Gilbert. They are a handful of players who have flashed during this Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. They also are five players who only have one last chance to impress. The Steelers’ preseason finale is 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Carolina Panthers....
First Call: Contract projections for T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick; Keith Butler give us something to track for the Steelers defense
Thursday’s “First Call” gives us some ballpark numbers on potential Steelers contracts for T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Coordinator Keith Butler reveals some defensive strategy. Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett is pushing to get Penn State and West Virginia back on the Panthers schedule. And Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is...
U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are mad about Mason Rudolph and hot about Dwayne Haskins; Pirates fans are peeved
Little should surprise me at this point when it comes to how angsty online dialogue about the Steelers can be. But some of what I’ve seen about the backup quarterback “debate” between Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph is blowing my mind. The funny thing is, both guys have actually been...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin doesn’t ‘want to speculate’ on timetable for Stephon Tuitt’s return
All the attention given to T.J. Watt’s non-holdout, partial participation in Steelers training camp has overshadowed a similar practice situation for defensive end Stephon Tuitt. As is the case with Watt, Tuitt has been present at most practices, working individually on the side and doing lots of conditioning. Defensive coordinator...
