Joe Rutter stories, Page 79

Heath Miller is among the first-time nominees eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021. Miller retired after the 2015 season following an 11-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers in which he set virtually every team receiving record for a tight end. Miller finished his career with...

Five members of the offensive line, including four starters from the season opener, did not practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday as they began on-field preparations for the home opener Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Tackle Zach Banner (knee) already was ruled out of playing Sunday and is expected...

Cameron Heyward, a team captain and a leader on the Pittsburgh Steelers social justice committee, was “surprised” that tackle Alejandro Villanueva did not display Antwon Rose Jr.’s name on the back of his helmet like the rest of his teammates in the season opener Monday night. Steelers players voted to...

The mother of Antwon Rose Jr. lashed out at Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva on Tuesday night for not putting her son’s name on the back of his helmet for the team’s season opener one night earlier. In a Facebook post, Michelle Kenney criticized Villanueva for not adhering to...

Five things we learned from Steelers 26, Giants 16: 1. Defense returns strong, adds wrinkles At first blush, it looked like the a continuation of the Steelers defense from 2019 what with the three sacks and two interceptions the group generated at the Meadowlands. Defensive captain Cam Heyward, though, noticed...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Already minus their All-Pro right guard, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost his replacement and their new starting right tackle on consecutive plays in the second half of their 26-16 season-opening win Monday night against the New York Giants. Central Catholic grad Stefen Wisniewski, starting in place of...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ben Roethlisberger overcame a long layoff and some early rust to get the Pittsburgh Steelers off to a good start Monday night in their season opener. Playing for the first time in 365 days because of right elbow surgery, the 38-year-old quarterback threw three touchdown passes...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Keeping a promise to remain unified during the playing of the national anthem Monday night against the New York Giants, all Pittsburgh Steelers players stood for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but nobody from the visiting team was on the field for the Black anthem...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — For the season opener against the New York Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be have a special teams player and a converted safety as the only players available as the backups at inside linebacker. Ulysees Gilbert III, a second-year linebacker who was expected to compete for...

The Kansas City Chiefs and quarterback Patrick Mahomes looked like they were ready to defend their Super Bowl title in the season opener Thursday. Can they become the first team in nearly two decades to repeat as champions? No NFC team has reached the conference title game in consecutive years...

The ironman on the right side of the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line won’t be on the field for the season opener Monday night at the New York Giants. All-Pro guard David DeCastro was ruled out of the opener when he did not participate in practice Saturday morning. DeCastro has not...

Pittsburgh Steelers players plan to take the field as a group for the national anthem Monday night when they open the 2020 season against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Cornerback Steve Nelson indicated to reporters Saturday that the Steelers won’t follow the lead of the Houston Texans, who...

The youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl is now 38 and chasing an elusive third ring. It has been 11 seasons since Ben Roethlisberger’s pinpoint touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds remaining provided the Pittsburgh Steelers with their sixth Lombardi Trophy and the quarterback’s second title in...

When the Pittsburgh Steelers named Zach Banner the starting right tackle for the season opener Monday night, they lost a popular eligible receiver and blocking tight end in the process. Banner took all but three of his 216 snaps last season as an inline tight end, and if he continued...

Here is a look at the Pittsburgh Steelers 2020 defense: (Italics denotes player is on the practice squad) Defensive end/tackle Starters: Cameron Heyward, Stephon Tuitt Others: Chris Wormley, Isaiah Buggs, Henry Mondeaux Breakdown: Coming off three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances and two first-team All-Pro nods in three years, Heyward remains...

Although he has one more year of NFL experience, Zack Banner entered training camp with fewer starts at right tackle compared to teammate Chuks Okorafor. Banner, though, will be the starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they open the season Monday night at the New York Giants. Coach Mike Tomlin...

Oddsmakers have installed the Pittsburgh Steelers as nearly a one-touchdown favorite to defeat the New York Giants in the season opener Monday night at MetLife Stadium. Mike Tomlin, though, doesn’t quite see his team holding an advantage as the Steelers prepare to play for the first time under the cloud...

Every NFL team faces questions heading into a new season, even the defending Super Bowl champion. But when a perennial contender misses the playoffs in back-to-back years, the questions stack up higher than the U.S. Steel Building. The Steelers face their share as they prepare for the 2020 season, which...

In his season opening news conference, coach Mike Tomlin did little to clear up the competition at right tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he also was vague Tuesday about right guard David DeCastro’s availability for the season opener in six days. Chuks Okorafor and Zach Banner are competing at...

When the Pittsburgh Steelers asked Tyson Alualu, a 10-year NFL veteran, to return to a position he played only sparingly in recent seasons, he took it as a challenge. He also took the switch from defensive end to nose tackle as a compliment. “I think so,” Alualu said during training...

The biggest and smallest players in Pittsburgh Steelers training camp failed to make the opening 53-man roster. When the Steelers got down to the limit Saturday afternoon, they did so by releasing 352-pound nose tackle Daniel McCullers and 5-foot-8, 185-pound slot receiver/return specialist Ryan Switzer. McCullers, who had spent the...

For the first time in four NFL seasons, Zach Banner won’t be wondering whether he still will have a job come Labor Day. When the Pittsburgh Steelers make roster cuts Saturday, Banner can relax and leave the worrying to others on the team’s 80-man roster. “I’m extremely grateful that I’m...

With one practice remaining until the end of training camp, the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to work without All-Pro right guard David DeCastro. DeCastro missed another practice Thursday because of an unspecified lower body injury. He hasn’t practiced since leaving early in the team’s scrimmage Friday night. DeCastro also missed the...