Steelers/NFL category, Page 340
James Washington comes up empty when Steelers use new wide receiver formation
James Washington’s versatility has worked against him the past two weeks for the Pittsburgh Steelers. When the Steelers went to a four-receiver, one-tight end formation in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys, Washington remained planted on the sideline. Instead of using Washington, the Steelers turned to...
Ben Roethlisberger remains on track to be activated, start for Steelers against Bengals
Coach Mike Tomlin remains confident quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be activated from the reserve/covid-19 list Saturday and start the following day against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Roethlisberger is cleared to rejoin the team Saturday, the Steelers will conduct what Tomlin termed an “extended walkthrough” in their final preparation before playing...
Four Downs: Steelers feast on No. 1-overall drafted QBs, is Bengals’ Joe Burrow next?
1. Wins versus No. 1s The Pittsburgh Steelers can make it three consecutive seasons with a victory against a rookie opposing quarterback drafted No. 1 overall. They are scheduled to face Joe Burrow’s Bengals on Sunday after defeating Kyler Murray’s Cardinals last season and Baker Mayfield’s Browns in 2018. But...
Steelers await 1st matchup with Bengals’ No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow
Growing up in Athens, Ohio, Joe Burrow found himself literally smack in the middle of an NFL football rivalry. Cincinnati was 130 miles away to the west. Pittsburgh loomed 135 miles to the northeast. “There were definitely more Steelers fans than Bengals fans growing up,” Burrow said this week. “That...
Mark Madden: Steelers run defense taking a hit without Devin Bush
When a team is undefeated, problems tend to be papered over. They’re mentally minimized. “What’s there to worry about? They’re 8-0.” Such is the case with the Steelers defense. There’s a lot to like about that defense. But there are a few things to worry about, too, and they mostly...
First Call: Mike Tomlin reveals plan for Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Sullivan confirms plan for Kasperi Kapanen
What are the Pittsburgh Steelers planning to do with Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday? We find out in Friday’s “First Call.” We also get some Penguins news, a little rumble surrounding the Baltimore Ravens, and some good news for a Penn State/WPIAL alum. Here’s the plan According to Jay Glazer of...
With or without Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers pass rush will be enough to beat Bengals
For the unbeaten Pittsburgh Steelers (8-0), Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals (2-5-1) appears more dangerous than it did a few weeks ago. • The Steelers looked highly vulnerable scratching past a bad Dallas Cowboys team that is now 2-7. • The Steelers have practiced all week without quarterback...
Tim Benz: We need the Steelers, NFL to stay afloat now more than ever
We see where this is going, don’t we? Chicago is issuing stay-at-home orders. Ohio is imposing tougher statewide mask mandates. Greece is in full lockdown nationwide. In the sports world, college football games all over the map are being canceled or postponed. Pitt is “pausing” its football program’s activities because...
Mike Hilton downgraded to limited at Steelers practice; another player out with illness
It remains unclear if Mike Hilton will be able to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. But the slot cornerback is not trending in the right direction. A day after making it through a full practice for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury Oct. 18, Hilton was...
Avery Williamson preparing for whatever role Steelers give him against Bengals
For Avery Williamson, the emotion he experienced Sunday could be considered uncharted territory in 2020. For the first time this season, the veteran linebacker got to celebrate a victory — even if he had nothing to do with it. A day after officially joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, Williamson watched his...
Steelers-Bengals features preeminent slot WRs in Tyler Boyd, JuJu Smith-Schuster
One plays for Pittsburgh’s team, and the other is from the area. Together, they’re the NFL’s most-used slot receivers. Sunday’s game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals features the wide receivers who rank first and second in the league in snaps run out of the slot, according to Pro...
Randy Fichtner: Steelers ‘continue to prepare’ as if Ben Roethlisberger will start vs. Bengals
The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuing to devise a gameplan for the Cincinnati Bengals with Ben Roethlisberger in mind. Although the Steelers won’t know until Saturday whether Roethlisberger can be activated from the NFL’s reserve/covid-19 list, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner is installing plays for Sunday’s game with the 17-year veteran in...
Steelers turn to Cameron Heyward to help out younger players on defensive line
The method isn’t as simplistic as one if by land, two if by sea, but if Karl Dunbar wants to make sure his words are resonating with the young players on the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line, he turns to captain Cameron Heyward. “I think he has always been my Paul...
Steelers’ Tyson Alualu returns to practice field, Mike Hilton full participant for 1st time
It was an encouraging day for two injured players coach Mike Tomlin has stressed are important to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ run defense. Defensive lineman Tyson Alualu took to the practice field for the first time since suffering a knee-ligament injury 10 days prior, and slot cornerback Mike Hilton was designated...
In addition to 5 missing for covid-19 reasons, Steelers give 5 veterans day off
Wednesday was Veterans Day across the country. But every in-season Wednesday is a veterans’ day for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This Wednesday, though, more than most. With five players on the reserve/covid-19 list, coach Mike Tomlin also gave five of his older players the day off. That group included his three...
Steelers offensive line’s run-blocking ‘below par’
After an early strong start to the season in the running game, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t getting results from their run-blockers. The men who take on the bulk of those responsibilities recognize the problem, too. “They’re spinning the bit,” offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett said of his unit’s recent failings...
Mark Madden: Steelers should have played it safe with Vance McDonald
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been struck by covid — and a bit of irony, too. Ben Roethlisberger and Vance McDonald were among the more outspoken when the ’rona hit Tennessee before the Steelers were supposed to travel there for a game Oct. 4, forcing the Steelers’ schedule and bye week...
First Call: Mike Tomlin on blocked kick issues; early Bengals trash talk; massive Steelers bet
Wednesday’s “First Call” gives us Steelers coach Mike Tomlin explaining his team’s poor blocking on place kicks on Sunday in Dallas. We also get some bad Cincinnati Bengals trash talk and even worse karma. Plus, perhaps the greatest golf shot you’ll ever see. Figure it ‘aht! The Steelers place-kick protection...
Tim Benz: Steelers should’ve played in Dallas without Vance McDonald
Going for a late fourth down during Sunday’s win in Dallas wasn’t the only questionable decision Mike Tomlin made on Sunday. Deciding to take tight end Vance McDonald on the trip is also worthy of second-guessing. Well, IF that’s who we are talking about when it comes to the mysterious...
U mad, bro? Steelers fans hate media criticism of 8-0 team, yet torn on Mike Tomlin
“U mad, bro?” Never mind. I know the answer to that question already. Everybody is mad. All the time. About everything. We just had an election. One side is angry about the result. The other side is angry the result is being disputed. Instead, let’s just talk about something that’ll...
Mike Tomlin: Mason Rudolph to get ‘bulk’ of QB reps, Josh Dobbs could play for Steelers
Mason Rudolph will take the most first-team practice reps for the Pittsburgh Steelers this week in Ben Roethlisberger’s stead. But should the worst-case scenario play out and Roethlisberger cannot play Sunday, coach Mike Tomlin left himself some wiggle room that Josh Dobbs could see some action against the Cincinnati Bengals....
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin defends decision to allow Vance McDonald to travel last week
Four Pittsburgh Steelers, including franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, are unable to practice this week in preparation for a division game. And, potentially, it’s possible the situation could have been avoided. With the benefit of hindsight, that’s how it appears with the Steelers’ decision to allow Vance McDonald to travel with...
Tomlin: ‘A chance’ Hilton, Alualu play for Steelers this week; Roethlisberger not injuredVideo
The availability of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for Sunday’s game might be in question but not because of any injury issues with his knees. During his weekly news conference Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger suffered “some bumps and bruises” during last week’s win at the Dallas Cowboys but...
Ben Roethlisberger among 4 Steelers placed on reserve/covid-19 list
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is among four Pittsburgh Steelers players the team placed on the NFL’s reserve/covid-19 list Tuesday. The moves come a day after the team announced a player — later identified as tight end Vance McDonald — had tested positive for coronavirus and was placed on the list. Per...
First Call: What? ESPN writer says Ben Roethlisberger ‘hasn’t been hugely important for the Steelers’
Tuesday’s “First Call” got me a little fired up. I have issues with ESPN’s midseason NFL awards, as some Steelers were snubbed. We look at eyebrow-raising numbers about the quarterback the Steelers are facing this weekend. And equally impressive gambling notes for the upcoming game. Also, some props for the...
