Mike Tomlin talks about 'growth' of Steelers as they prepare to face Packers

Mike Tomlin is trying to get his Pittsburgh Steelers to rise above the negativity following back-to-back home losses that have placed his team in last place in the AFC North.

The Steelers are 1-2 after losses to Las Vegas and Cincinnati, and they will try to get back to .500 on Sunday when they visit the Green Bay Packers.

“We have some growth ahead of us,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “I’m excited about that growth, and I’m excited about doing it with the collection of men we work with. We’ve gotta have tough skin. I assume that they do. I know many of the ones I have worked with for an extended period of time do. We have to teach the young ones.”

Tomlin was asked to respond to Tyler Boyd’s assertion that the Steelers “gave up” late in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 loss to the Bengals. The former Clairton and Pitt star wide receiver made those remarks Monday, saying he saw the Steelers “lay down like that before the game was over.”

“I don’t care about Tyler Boyd’s opinion about what transpired at any point in that game,” Tomlin said. “Like I said after the game, and it includes him, I tip my cap to that team and organization for their performance and win. I proceed moving onto the next challenge.”

The Steelers and Bengals meet again Nov. 28 in Cincinnati.

“We better play better the next time we see them,” Tomlin said. “That is always our mentality. I care less about what people say that are not involved in us and with us and functioning and understanding who and what we are.

“He is entitled to his opinion, but I don’t have to respond to it.”

Ben Roethlisberger threw two interceptions that led to Bengals touchdowns, the Steelers gave up a 34-yard touchdown pass with 37 seconds left in the first half, the defense failed to record a sack for the first time in 76 regular-season games, and the running game struggled for the third week in a row.

Tomlin said the Steelers need to improve in schematics, fundamentals and their knowledge of how to handle critical moments in games if they are to beat the Packers on the road. The Packers are on a different trajectory than the Steelers. They are 2-1, having won two games since losing the opener.

“I believe in those guys and their football character and their willingness to work,” Tomlin said. “It’s been on display throughout the process. … I’m excited about getting back to work tomorrow.”

Tomlin said three players who missed the Bengals game because of injury — linebackers T.J. Watt (groin), Alex Highsmith (groin) and wide receiver Diontae Johnson (knee) — are scheduled to resume practicing this week. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who left with a rib injury, also is expected to practice “at some point” during the week.

Right tackle Chuks Okorafor remains in concussion protocol. Center Kendrick Green left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury, but Tomlin expects him to practice Wednesday.

Defensive end Stephon Tuitt, right tackle Zach Banner and running back Anthony McFarland Jr. have served the minimum three-week absence for being place on injured reserve prior to the season.

“They are working hard, maybe in some instances are close,” Tomlin said. “I haven’t asked a lot of detailed information about where they are at this point although we are getting close to that phase of eligibility.”

Once a player on injured reserve begins practicing, the Steelers have 21 days to activate him to the 53-man roster.

Here is some of what else Tomlin had to say at his press conference:

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