Steelers/NFL category, Page 209
Steelers rookie WR Pickens does his part in offense, remains patient
Anyone who saw George Pickens shine during training camp expected Pickens would be scoring touchdowns during the season. But could anybody have predicted his second NFL touchdown would come not on a fly route, not a contested catch, not a particularly acrobatic play but on a run between the tackles?...
Robert Spillane picks up slack as Steelers play without Myles Jack
Robert Spillane had been waiting for the chance to play every snap in an NFL game. Until Sunday, the opportunity had never presented itself for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fifth-year inside linebacker. That’s not unusual considering Spillane is third linebacker in the Steelers rotation and had started only 11 of 44...
5 things we learned: Numbers weren’t flashy, but Kenny Pickett got job done in Steelers win
Five things we learned from Steelers 20, Saints 10: 1. Pickett’s charge Kenny Pickett produced a 79.7 passer rating against the Saints that, if it represented his number for the entire season, would rank No. 31 among NFL quarterbacks. Alas, it merely lifted Pickett’s season rating to 68.8, which rates...
Mark Madden: Nervous, sloppy, unsure, Kenny Pickett isn’t ready to be Steelers’ starting QB
When Kenny Pickett became the Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 1 quarterback as of the second half of the Week 4 loss to the visiting New York Jets, it felt permanent. Pickett’s the guy, his time is now, this is the beginning, you deal with hiccups, but Pickett stays in. But now,...
Steelers vs. Saints: What they’re saying in New Orleans after loss
Not so easy in the Big Easy. The New Orleans Saints rolled into Pittsburgh with quarterback Andy Dalton and rolled up a mere 10 points. They were shutout in the second half. We thought things were rough in Pittsburgh. The Saints reside in a division with a .500 team in...
First Call: Bill Cowher rants about Jeff Saturday; JuJu Smith-Schuster knocked out; Matt Murray may face Penguins
Monday’s “First Call” features quite a rant by former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher. JuJu Smith-Schuster was knocked out of Sunday’s game in Kansas City. The Penguins may get a shot at former teammate Matt Murray. And Duquesne’s basketball team is trying to rebound from their loss in Kentucky. Sour...
Madden Monday on Kenny Pickett: ‘Right now, I think he stinks’
There were a lot of positives to take away from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 20-10 win on Sunday over the New Orleans Saints. • The Steelers managed to hold the Saints offense to 186 total yards as T.J. Watt returned to action. • The Steelers offense rushed for 217 yards. •...
Returns of T.J. Watt, Damontae Kazee contribute to Steelers’ dominant defensive effort
It was the defense that had its starters introduced to the Acrisure Stadium crowd during Sunday’s pregame. Among the final names announced to fans were a pair of players making their season home debut, Damontae Kazee and T.J. Watt. The former was greeted with the light (albeit warm) applause afforded...
Feats of Strength: Steelers defense, running game come up big in much-needed win over Saints
Even in a season when optimism has been scarce for the Steelers, there was plenty of reason for some heading into Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. The 2-6 Steelers were playing at home, in the cold, after a bye. Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt was scheduled to suit...
Minkah Fitzpatrick underwent appendectomy soon after Steelers’ Saturday walkthrough
As far as his teammates could tell, Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Saturday wasn’t all that unlike the eve of any other Pittsburgh Steelers gameday. “We saw him during the walk-through and not thinking anything,” Cameron Heyward said offering a wry smile. “Minkah’s just, you know, Minkah’s grumpy all the time, so didn’t...
Steelers injury report: Myles Jack cleared, but held out of Steelers’ victory as precaution
Though he had missed the first two practices of the preparation week, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Myles Jack was deemed healthy enough to play in Sunday’s game. Jack was able and willing to play Sunday, but he did not get onto the field during the Steelers 20-10 win against the New...
Steelers come out running vs. Saints, finish with their best rushing game in 6 years
Najee Harris had more rushing yards in the first quarter Sunday than he’d had in the entire previous full game he’d played. The Pittsburgh Steelers, on whole, had more rushing yards in the first quarter than they’d had over the first 15 minutes of a game since 2018. Over four...
Steelers right ship with win over Saints
On a day of firsts for the Pittsburgh Steelers, rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett got his first win in a game that he started and finished, and coach Mike Tomlin beat the New Orleans Saints for the first time in four tries. Not to be overlooked was the Steelers also getting...
A year after selection, Louis Lipps embraces chance to join Steelers’ Hall of Honor
Louis Lipps is grateful for the second chance to have his NFL career recognized by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former Pro Bowl wide receiver was supposed to be feted a year ago as a member of the 2021 Hall of Honor Class. Then, about a week before the ceremony, he...
G Kevin Dotson and OLB Malik Reed in uniform for Steelers vs. Saints
Starting left guard and erstwhile starting outside linebacker Malik Reed played for the Pittsburgh Steelers during Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers home game against the New Orleans Saints. Dotson and Reed were listed as questionable on the league-mandated status report Friday, when Dotson was a limited practice participant because of an abdomen...
Steelers look to continue tormenting Saints QB Andy Dalton
To paraphrase the closing line from the movie “The Silence of the Lambs”, the Pittsburgh Steelers are having an old friend for lunch Sunday. It’s not hyperbole to suggest that when the Steelers get together with Andy Dalton, they feast on him the way Hannibal Lecter does his dining companions....
Steelers 4 Downs: Franchise has history of rebounding after 2-6 starts
1. 2-6 to 6-2 With no losing seasons in 15 previous years as an NFL head coach, it might be easy to fall into the trap that Mike Tomlin hasn’t been here before — “here” defined as coach of a 2-6 team. With the most wins of any franchise in...
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick likely out multiple games after appendectomy; T.J. Watt activated
On a day when the Pittsburgh Steelers activated outside linebacker T.J. Watt from injured reserve, they announced free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick won’t play Sunday because of appendicitis. Fitzpatrick had an appendectomy Saturday after experiencing discomfort in his right side during the team’s walk-through in the morning, a source told the...
Najee Harris lobbies for running backs to be more involved in Steelers passing game
After being heavily involved in the passing game in his rookie season, running back Najee Harris has seen that role decrease significantly at the midpoint of his second year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the bye week, Harris approached offensive coordinator Matt Canada about returning to what worked last season....
Abdomen injury to LG Kevin Dotson puts availability in question for Steelers’ game vs. Saints
The Pittsburgh Steelers could have a change to the composition of their offensive line when they play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. Left guard Kevin Dotson is listed as questionable with an abdomen injury after being a limited participant in practice Friday. Dotson has started all...
T.J. Watt vows to play against Saints, says return to Steelers ‘a long time coming’
The Pittsburgh Steelers still must make the transaction official before 4 p.m. Saturday. That’s the deadline they face to activate outside linebacker T.J. Watt from injured reserve so he can dress Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. It appears to be a formality. Watt acknowledged Friday he will make his...
Greg Fulton: Alejandro Villanueva, a Veterans Day story
“Duty. Honor. Country.” Alejandro Villanueva followed the U.S. Military Academy at West Point’s credo when he was there and when he served in the military, and he adhered to it when he played with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Villanueva defied the odds to make it to the NFL, and became one...
Mark Madden: More than anything, Steelers need to see improvement from Kenny Pickett
The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a bye week. New Orleans is coming off a short week. The Steelers are 2-6. The Saints are approximately just as rotten at 3-6. The host Steelers are nonetheless 1½-point underdogs. There isn’t a lot of faith in the Steelers. But if the Steelers...
Friday Football Footnotes: Steelers-Saints by the numbers — and some of the numbers are kinda weird
Here are the most important numbers leading up to the Steelers-Saints game Sunday at Heinz Field. The Steelers are 2-6. The Saints are 3-6. So both clubs are desperate for a win. It’s been five years since New Orleans has had a losing season. It’s been 18 years since we’ve...
First Call: Jalen Hurts thought he was going to be a Steeler; Saints injury update; Matt Murray not ready for Pens vs. Leafs
NFL MVP candidate Jalen Hurts says he thought he was going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler coming out of college. Pat Freiermuth sings the praises of Heath Miller. The Saints are dealing with plenty of injuries as they head up to Pittsburgh. Matt Murray won’t be healthy enough to play...
