Devin Bush and Noah Fant will be forever linked. When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded up 10 spots in the 2019 draft to take Bush, the Denver Broncos used that No. 20 pick to select Fant, a 6-foot-4 tight end from Iowa.
Bush and Fant crossed paths — literally — several times Sunday in the Steelers’ 26-21 victory at Heinz Field.
Bush was caught trailing Fant on inside coverage when the tight end broke free for a 20-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter. Fant also got past Bush for the 2-point conversion that pulled Denver within 17-14.
Fant finished with four catches for 57 yards, with all of his targets coming in the second half. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler said the Steelers defense missed a blitz call on the play. Still, the 5-11 Bush must adjust to playing against tall, physical tight ends. This weekend, the Houston Texans will bring 6-4 Jordan Akins and 6-7 Darren Fells into Heinz Field.
Akins and Fells have combined for 13 catches, 136 yards and two touchdowns.
“I have no issues with my pass coverage abilities,” said Bush, who had one pass defense in the game. “I don’t think they were singling me out, but they had good catches. We are professionals, and it happens from time to time. It was a good battle. As long as you come out with a win, I can keep getting better from that.”
Bush called it a “blown coverage,” and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said the defense put Bush in a predicament by allowing Fant to run free in the secondary on the touchdown.
“It was just another schematic thing,” Fitzpatrick said. “It wasn’t mismatch or anything like that. We put Devin in a tough situation. And he wasn’t even in terrible position. It was just a tough play on him.”
Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)