Steelers/NFL category, Page 152
Former Steelers blossoming in L.A. after joining Rams
When the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Rams on Sunday, they’ll see a pair of former teammates who are thriving in Los Angeles. Ex-Steelers cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has started all six games for the Rams and played 94% of the defensive snaps for the Rams so far this year. He has...
First Call: Rams off-field issues and injury news; Steelers linebacker wants to make a comeback
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ next opponent is dealing with issues on and off the field. A former Steelers linebacker wants to make a comeback after some recent trouble in his personal life. The first college basketball poll of the season is out. And a Duquesne football star is getting some recognition....
Tim Benz: History says this is when the Steelers heat up. History better repeat itself
Over the course of the past six seasons, there have been a pair of obvious constants for the Pittsburgh Steelers. • They haven’t won a playoff game. • They haven’t had a losing season. You’re probably aware of that rather annoying push-pull dynamic by now, aren’t you? There have also...
Steelers emerge from bye week at relative full health; Pat Freiermuth, others poised to return
Each NFL team gets an idle weekend during its 18-week season. The merits of the timing of these byes can differ by team and situation. For the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023, a case could be made that their week off came at an ideal time. During a “bonus” session as...
Steelers left tackle Dan Moore back at practice, reclaims 1st-team reps over Broderick Jones
Dan Moore Jr. was back at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Monday. And he was back with the first-team offense, too. Moore confirmed he was taking reps with the starters when speaking after Monday’s session at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The three-year veteran said he suffered a sprained MCL during an Oct....
First Call: Steelers’ next foe brings WR challenge; AFC North goes 3-0 with boost from WPIAL alumni; Titans QB concern
Monday’s “First Call” examines a challenge facing the Pittsburgh Steelers for their first game back from the bye. We take a look at the AFC North after some WPIAL alumni helped the teams go 3-0 this weekend. The idea of a London Super Bowl is still on the table. An...
Madden Monday: Of the 4 games after the bye, Steelers ‘might lose every game, but they won’t win every game’
The Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) are coming out of the bye with a game in Los Angeles against the Rams, then home games versus Jacksonville, Tennessee, and Green Bay. Not exactly daunting stuff. The combined record of those teams is 11-12. Yet given the offensive struggles of the team over the...
Steelers inside linebackers look to build upon growth made against Ravens
Before Joey Porter Jr.’s interception that changed momentum last Sunday and led to the go-ahead touchdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kwon Alexander set the stage with a play that put the Baltimore Ravens in that passing situation. Alexander’s open-field tackle on tight end Mark Andrews resulted in a 1-yard loss...
Ben Roethlisberger aside, Kenny Pickett holds own against Steelers QB predecessors at start of career
When the Pittsburgh Steelers return from their bye and face the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday, quarterback Kenny Pickett will make his 18th career start. That’s one more than what constitutes an NFL season, which was expanded in 2021. Given that mile marker in Pickett’s nascent career, it seemed like...
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Kirk Cousins trade speculation an absurd proposition for Steelers
Former NFL GM Michael Lombardi said the Pittsburgh Steelers should trade for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins. One local radio talk show seized that scrap and thrashed about for the best part of an afternoon. Steelers X, of course, went bonkers. Cousins to the Steelers has zero chance of happening....
Steelers 4 Downs: Plenty of 1-possession games, Kenny Pickett NFL’s most ‘aggressive’ QB
1. Tight games Likely as much as anything a function of having an above-average defense and below-average offense combining to keep points — and, by extension, victory margins — low, the Pittsburgh Steelers have become a seemingly weekly showcase for close, down-to-the-wire games. Dating to just before Thanksgiving last season,...
Kicking instructor’s wish is to have Irish eyes smiling on Steelers, increase awareness in sport
On the day the Pittsburgh Steelers invited Irish kicking instructor Tadhg Leader and two of his students to attend their game against the Baltimore Ravens, he watched Australian Brad Wing handle the punting duties. Leader envisions the day when he can watch the Steelers turn to someone from his home...
2 stats to know for each Steelers position group at the bye
The two most important numbers for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they enjoy their idle weekend are 3 and 2. As in, three wins and two losses. That has them in first place in the AFC North. But there are plenty of other numbers that illustrate where the Steelers are and...
Tim Benz: ESPN just created the word ‘Tomlining,’ but the definition is up for debate
On Monday morning, following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg invented a new word: “Tomlining.” And I think he meant it as a compliment. Yes, the “Get Up!” host turned the Steelers coach into a verb. He did so during a segment breaking down...
Mark Madden: Fans may want to ‘Fire Canada,’ but blame should be placed with his boss
The persecution of Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada is Pittsburgh’s bad obsession. (You ain’t special. So who you foolin’?) “Fire Canada” chants at the Penguins game. “Fire Canada” signs displayed out of context at nationally televised events. The entire city has united, not for a good cause but in the...
Friday Football Footnotes: Plenty for Steelers fans to watch during team’s bye weekend
The Pittsburgh Steelers are off this week for their bye. But there is plenty to watch in the NFL this weekend through a Black and Gold lens. For this week’s “Friday Football Footnotes,” we give you a list of things to track and monitor while the Steelers take a break...
Start vs. Ravens could be 1st in long run for Steelers rookie tackle Broderick Jones
George Pickens accelerated to a speed of 20.48 mph on his 41-yard touchdown reception Sunday that led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. Next Gen Stats, the NFL’s statistical arm, didn’t calculate how fast Broderick Jones ran after the play, but the 311-pound rookie left...
Tim Benz: 5 ways the Steelers must improve coming out of the bye
It would be foolish to suggest that we could sum up everything that the Pittsburgh Steelers need to do to improve themselves coming out of the bye weekend in one column. As far as division-leading teams at the quarter pole go, this one is about as flawed as I’ve ever...
U mad, bro?: When Penguins fans are openly heckling Steelers coaches, you know things are at a boiling point
The Pittsburgh Steelers feel like the worst 3-2 team in the history of the NFL. The Penguins blew a two-goal lead in their home opener. And the Steelers offensive coordinator is apparently getting booed everywhere in the 412 and 724 area codes. So, as you may be able to assume,...
First Call: Fox rates Mike Tomlin 3rd-best coach; James Harrison on T.J. Watt setting the sack record
Thursday’s “First Call” illustrates the love the national media still has for Mike Tomlin. James Harrison applauds T.J. Watt while J.J. Watt discusses the scrutiny of Matt Canada. Also, Connor Bedard scores his first NHL goal, and an ex-Pittsburgh Penguin gets off on the right foot. Laying it on a...
Matt Canada: ‘There’s a good vibe from the guys’ on the Steelers offense as it seeks turnaround
Matt Canada is aware that the results from the offense need to improve. The Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator is confident his unit’s players are taking a good approach to reaching that end during the team’s bye week. “We’d like to be better but there’s a lot of football left, and...
Former Jets 2nd-round pick Denzel Mims seeks to contribute to Steelers WR corps
Three-and-a-half years, three teams, a trade and multiple injuries into his pro career, Denzel Mims has learned a lessons about the NFL. “Don’t be comfortable, really,” Mims said from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ locker room last week. A second-round pick in 2020 after being a star receiver at Baylor, Mims was...
Steelers QB coach impressed with Kenny Pickett’s pre-snap communication, pocket awareness vs. Ravens
Kenny Pickett has gotten rave reviews for the way he changed the protection at the line of scrimmage Sunday before he threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens that provided the go-ahead points in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. It wasn’t the first time in...
Forget Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, here’s Pittsburgh’s athlete/celebrity romance history
The sports and celebrity headlines have been filled with the news of a budding romance between pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. But Pittsburgh is no stranger when it comes to its athletes romancing celebrities. One Steelers player married an Olympic figure skater, while...
First Call: Update on T.J. Watt’s injured finger sounds nasty; a ‘Fire Canada’ chant at the Penguins game?
Wednesday’s “First Call” features a gnarly update on the finger injury suffered by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt. Joey Porter Jr. goes in-depth on his first career interception. The Steelers’ next opponent made a trade. And we have some NHL-opening gambling lines. Dislocated digit Not much attention was paid to...
