Chris Adamski stories, Page 142
Devlin Hodges ‘still confident,’ but Mike Tomlin won’t commit he’ll remain Steelers starterVideo
For the first time in his young career, Duck didn’t fly high. But Devlin Hodges insists a four-interception performance hasn’t shaken his confidence he can play in the NFL. “You hate to lose,” Hodges said after a 17-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills, “but I think after the first loss,...
‘Bills Mafia’ a significant presence at Heinz Field in win over SteelersVideo
Usually, it’s Steelers Nation that’s lauded for its tendency to pack opposing team’s stadiums. Sunday night, it was Bills Mafia that took over Heinz Field. Several thousand Buffalo Bills fans made the trip to Pittsburgh, and they left happy after a 17-10 victory by their team clinched the franchise’s second...
RBs James Conner, Trey Edmunds active vs. Bills for Steelers, who have just 4 D-linemen
After playing just one quarter since October, James Conner is in uniform and active for the Pittsburgh Steelers game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. Conner had missed five of the past six games because of a shoulder injury; his return for the Nov. 14 game at Cleveland was...
Trusted veteran Ramon Foster quietly carving niche among all-time Steelers
Greg Adkins knew Ramon Foster from Foster’s junior year of high school through his five years as his position coach at Tennessee. When Foster’s college career ended, Adkins was eager to volunteer his opinion to NFL teams in advance of the 2009 draft. “A lot of scouts that come through...
Four Downs: Steelers’ Minkah Fitzpatrick, T.J. Watt worthy defensive player of year candidatesVideo
1. DPOY joy The NFL’s official analytics arm, Next Gen Stats, listed its seven top contenders for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Two — T.J. Watt and Minkah Pitzpatrick — are Pittsburgh Steelers. Among the statistics cited in making a case for Watt were two based on quickness: an...
Without JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers receivers ready to step upVideo
Diontae Johnson, James Washington and Deon Cain have been drafted since JuJu Smith-Schuster joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. That Smith-Schuster still remains the wide receivers corps’ youngest member doesn’t mean he’s not the most accomplished or experienced. “He’s always in our ear giving us advice for running certain route,” Washington said...
Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster, Vance McDonald out vs. Bills; James Conner questionableVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without their No. 1 wide receiver and No. 1 tight end Sunday. It’s uncertain whether their No. 1 running back will play, either. JuJu Smith-Schuster will miss a fourth consecutive game because of a knee injury, and Vance McDonald will sit out his first because...
Steelers rookie Devlin Hodges comfortable calling audiblesVideo
When Devlin Hodges addressed the media earlier this week as the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was one day after the three-month anniversary since he had been unemployed and back home in Alabama. But as “Duck” prepares to make his fourth NFL start Sunday, Steelers coaches are increasingly...
As season goes on, Steelers increasingly reliant on running game
Over the past three games, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had 105 running plays. That accounts for three of their top four high-carry games of the season and makes for a 16-game pace of 560 carries. That’s a figure they have not topped since 2004. By comparison, the Steelers had just...
Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster downgraded; James Conner, Jaylen Samuels practice fullyVideo
JuJu Smith-Schuster was downgraded Thursday to a limited practice participant on the Pittsburgh Steelers official injury report. A day after practicing fully for the first time since suffering a knee injury during a Nov. 14 game at the Cleveland Browns, Smith-Schuster’s status for Sunday’s AFC showdown with the Buffalo Bills...
Takeaway-savvy Steelers defense eager to face fumble-prone Bills QB Josh AllenVideo
Bud Dupree’s eyes lit up when someone asked him if he knew how many times Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had fumbled this season. “Is it a lot?” Dupree asked, glowingly. Yes, Bud, it is — 14 times, in fact, the second-most of any player in the NFL. “Oh yeah,...
Oliver Luck: Steelers tried to sign Landry Jones from XFL
Instead of Duck Mania, would Pittsburgh right now be Landry Land? According to XFL commissioner Oliver Luck, perhaps so. Luck, the former West Virginia quarterback and athletic director, told the Tampa Bay Times that the Pittsburgh Steelers tried to sign quarterback Landry Jones in September after Ben Roethlisberger suffered his...
Steelers’ Diontae Johnson named AFC Special Teams Player of the WeekVideo
The best game of Diontae Johnson’s young career earned him his first NFL award. Johnson was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Wednesday, three days after his 85-yard punt return for a touchdown helped propel the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 23-17 win at the Arizona Cardinals. Mike Tomlin...
Steelers’ Devlin Hodges ready for December footballVideo
Sticking to character, Devlin Hodges knew exactly how to downplay the prospect of playing a football game in subfreezing weather for the first time in his life. “Ducks like it when it’s a little bit colder anyway,” said the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback whose ubiquitous nickname, of course, is “Duck.” It...
Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner practice Wednesday; Jaylen Samuels sits out
Coach Mike Tomlin indicated there was a chance that his pair of injured Pro Bowl skill-position players could return to action this week. Wednesday’s official injury report provided more encouraging news. Receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner each was a full participant in the first Pittsburgh Steelers practice...
Steelers’ Devlin Hodges outshines heralded 2019 NFL rookie QBsVideo
The NFL’s official draft page included 21 quarterback prospects in advance of this past spring’s draft. Devlin Hodges was not on the list. With good reason, it turned out, as only 11 of the 21 tracked by the league’s official news outlet ended up being drafted. Included were four from...
With Bills coming to Pittsburgh, a look at recent domination by Steelers in seriesVideo
It’s been more than two decades since the Buffalo Bills beat the Pittsburgh Steelers – and more than a quarter century since they won in Pittsburgh. The Bills (9-4) visit Heinz Field on Sunday in a game that was flexed into primetime in part because the matchup of two teams...
Book chronicles life of WPIAL, Pitt, Steelers star James Conner
There haven’t been too many athletes who have starred in the WPIAL, for Pitt and for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then again, there haven’t been too many standouts at any of those levels who are arguably just as renowned for battling cancer. James Conner’s story is chronicled in a book released...
Steelers’ Bud Dupree takes winding path to breakout NFL season
The driving route from the south on the way to Irwinton, Ga., meanders on two-lane roads alongside the Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area and through towns such as Hawkinsville and Goose Neck. “You better have enough gas in your car on the way there,” said two-decade college assistant coach D.J. Eliot,...
Four Downs: Steelers’ James Washington emerging as legitimate starting wide receiverVideo
1. King James In an unlikely Pittsburgh Steelers season of improbable storylines and unsung heroes, perhaps lost in the proverbial shuffle over recent weeks has been the emergence of James Washington. It was only about a month ago that Washington’s career had the appearance of one careening perilously close to...
Steelers respect Pitt alum Larry Fitzgerald, who’s had ‘gold jacket-like career’ for CardinalsVideo
At age 36 and in his 16th season, Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald still is producing like a No. 1 option. “Man, I just always got a high level of respect,” Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of the Cardinals captain. “And I’m never surprised when I turn the tape...
Steelers’ Diontae Johnson fights through injury, ‘rookie wall’Video
Diontae Johnson was seemingly making plays immediately after his promotion to “starter” status just three games into his rookie NFL season. By November, especially with JuJu Smith-Schuster seeing his production down and now out because of injury, Johnson had the look of the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver. In recent weeks,...
Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner out vs. Cardinals; Mark Barron will play
What was known all week became official Friday when the Pittsburgh Steelers ruled JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner out of Sunday’s game at the Arizona Cardinals. Running back Conner if out for the fifth time over the past six weeks because of a shoulder injury suffered late during an Oct....
Could Steelers take advantage of Cardinals weakness in defending tight ends?Video
Production has been mostly lacking from tight ends in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. If Vance McDonald and Nick Vannett don’t produce Sunday, they might never do so. The Steelers’ next opponent — the Arizona Cardinals — are the NFL’s worst team in defending tight ends. Through 12 games, opposing tights...
Steelers’ James Conner will not play vs. Cardinals, hopes to return before season’s endVideo
James Conner again was a limited participant at practice Thursday, he confirmed. But it wasn’t for reasons of preparing for the Pittsburgh Steelers game Sunday. Conner is getting his work in, he said, but not at the expense of the running backs who are part of the gameplan for the...
