Steelers/NFL category, Page 81
Mike Tomlin puts Steelers secondary ‘on notice’ for Week 10 game against Commanders
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin advised “everybody in the secondary to be on notice” because of the return of versatile defensive back Cameron Sutton. After serving an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, Sutton is eligible to play for the AFC North-leading Steelers (6-2) against standout rookie...
Tim Benz: Steelers’ defense must live up to its reputation against gauntlet of opponents after the bye
At the halfway point of the NFL season, there’s a lot to like about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense. As of Monday morning, coach Mike Tomlin’s team ranked second in points allowed per game (14.6). With 15 takeaways, only the Packers (19), Vikings (17) and Lions (16) had more. The team...
5 wide receivers the Steelers could target by Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline
For decades, the NFL trade deadline was a virtual non-event for the Pittsburgh Steelers. From the advent of free agency in 1993 until 2019, the Steelers made no mid-season trades. The acquisition of inside linebacker Avery Williamson from the New York Jets on Nov. 1, 2020, started something of a...
Cameron Sutton excited get back to practice with Steelers, but immediate role undetermined
As Cameron Sutton was quick to point out Monday, his absence from Pittsburgh Steelers practices over the past eight weeks had nothing to do with injury. But even if it had, there’s a part of Sutton’s anatomy that might be more important to the defense than his arms or legs....
Mark Madden: Omar Khan, Steelers running out of time to acquire wide receiver
Spring ahead, fall back, refreshing sports notes always! We’re going to win this one, take the country by storm! • The Steelers were reportedly talking to Jacksonville about a trade for wideout Christian Kirk, but Kirk broke his collarbone. So, the Steelers almost got Kirk, almost got Brandon Aiyuk and...
First Call: Notes from the AFC North; Washington stays hot; Mason Rudolph wins; James Conner shines
Monday’s “First Call” recaps Sunday’s AFC North results as the Pittsburgh Steelers rested during their bye. The next opponent for Mike Tomlin’s team is the Washington Commanders. They continued to impress with another win. Pitt product and former Steeler James Conner had a big day for the Arizona Cardinals. Mason...
Tim Benz: Donte Jackson, fellow Steelers embrace Diontae Johnson’s return to AFC North in Baltimore
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Diontae Johnson saw only 13 snaps in his Baltimore Ravens debut and wasn’t targeted on the day. That was the plan heading into Baltimore’s Week 9 game against the Denver Broncos, a contest the Ravens (6-3) won 41-10. The Ravens coaching staff wanted to get Johnson up...
Steelers TE Rodney Williams delivered ‘most critical block’ on Calvin Austin’s punt return TD
When Rodney Williams saw that Calvin Austin III had only one man to beat to get to the sideline, he used his left shoulder to nudge New York Giants long snapper Casey Kreiter and clear some space. Then Williams threw both hands up in the air in what was an...
Like the Steelers defensive line as a whole, Keeanu Benton strives to be better than just good enough
Like his more senior position mate, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Keeanu Benton was smarting despite entering the bye week at 6-2 after last week’s victory against the New York Giants. “They got over 100 yards rushing,” Benton said, referring in large part to Tyrone Tracy’s 145 yards on 20 carries....
Mark Madden’s Hot Take: Slow down Super Bowl talk until Steelers add WR, win AFC North
After a 6-2 start, the Pittsburgh Steelers are being branded Super Bowl contenders by those obliged to fast-forward from the bye week directly to New Orleans. I’ll play along. Russell Wilson at quarterback has made the offense crisp and versatile. George Pickens has been snatched off the milk carton and...
Steelers’ midseason position-by position report card
With the Pittsburgh Steelers at 6-2 and sitting idle this weekend, here’s a midterm report card for the team: Quarterbacks: A- Mason Rudolph’s 2023 late-season cameo noted, Justin Fields and Russell Wilson have given the Steelers arguably their best eight-game stretch of quarterback play since pre-elbow surgery Ben Roethlisberger in...
Mixing and matching of Steelers tight ends leaves opposing defenses guessing
It was posited as a joke to Pittsburgh Steelers tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts that his team — for maybe even just one snap, at least — achieves the proverbial Holy Grail for tight ends across the world. The “0-5” personnel. “Oh-five?!” an eavesdropping quarterbacks coach Tom Arth said. “Don’t...
‘Pittsburgh Steelers: An Illustrated Timeline’ documents the team’s storied history
Jim Wexell spent weeks during the summer of 2023 in the library, but not just any library. It was the Pro Football Hall of Fame library in Canton, Ohio. There, he perused everything written about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ storied franchise as he researched book ideas. Wexell filled 10 legal pads...
Rocky Bleier nominated by Steelers for NFL’s Salute to Service Award
Pittsburgh Steelers legend Rocky Bleier is the team’s nominee for the NFL’s Salute to Service Award, the franchise announced Friday. A running back on the Super Steelers’ four-time Super Bowl champions of the 1970s, Bleier’s story is familiar to Steelers fans but no less inspirational to those who tell it...
First Call: Diontae Johnson discusses facing the Steelers soon; Juan Soto says he’ll listen to ‘all 30’ MLB teams
Friday’s “First Call” features former Pittsburgh Steeler Diontae Johnson speaking about his return to the AFC North. Juan Soto insists he’ll listen to free-agent offers from every Major League Baseball team. Presumably, that includes … the Pirates? The Penguins hope to finally gain traction with a second straight win Saturday....
Football Footnotes: Our annual bye week ‘No Steelers, no problem’ editionVideo
With the Pittsburgh Steelers off this week, it’s our annual “No Steelers, no problem” bye week edition of “Football Footnotes.” Here’s everything you need to know about the games that will impact the Steelers this week while the Black and Gold are idle. • The Steelers’ next game is in...
Steelers notes: Chris Boswell named special teams player of month, OT Dylan Cook waived
Chris Boswell made it 2 for 2 in collecting an NFL monthly honor. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ veteran kicker Thursday was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October. Boswell made all 22 of his placekick attempts during the Steelers’ four games over the past four weeks, three of...
Rewards, like turnovers, come in bunches for Steelers ‘black belt’ rookie CB Beanie BishopVideo
Beanie Bishop Jr. knows nothing about his success with the Pittsburgh Steelers has come by accident, even if it requires the rookie slot cornerback to adjust on the fly when a pass is tipped. So the importance of his interception of a Daniel Jones pass deflected by Steelers cornerback Joey...
First Call: Mike Sullivan discusses Tristan Jarry; Zach Frazier thinks he’ll ‘be ready’ after bye
Thursday’s “First Call” features a message from Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan to struggling goalie Tristan Jarry. Zach Frazier and Nick Herbig discuss their health. Steelers special teams coach Danny Smith tells the story of how the team decided to bring back Corliss Waitman. And there were some Pirates ties...
Tim Benz: Cam Sutton will add to Steelers defense, but don’t subtract too much Beanie Bishop from the equationVideo
Steelers defensive back Cameron Sutton is eligible to return from his eight-game suspension in Week 10 when the Steelers return from their bye. That doesn’t mean defensive coordinator Teryl Austin is in a hurry to rip the slot cornerback job away from Beanie Bishop and simply hand it to Sutton...
U mad, bro?: Fans want Penguins to wake up, suggest moving Erik Karlsson to wing
Here’s my personal “U mad, bro?” submission for this week: I’m mad that Nov. 1 isn’t a national holiday. Kids should get Nov. 1 off so they can stay out late and trick-or-treat under cover of darkness as all the unholy ghosts, witches and goblins intended. Halloween was not meant...
Steelers special teams coach Danny Smith a colorful character, with or without the camera
Danny Smith has become a social media darling, with telecasts capturing cutaway shots of him chomping on Dubble Bubble, pumping his fist or being mobbed by Pittsburgh Steelers after special teams splash plays. From his sideline antics to the slang he slips into his answers, the Steelers special teams coach...
Steelers OLB Nick Herbig ‘optimistic’ he will return against Commanders after bye
Nick Herbig insists it hasn’t been as difficult for him to watch the past three games — in lieu of playing in them for the Pittsburgh Steelers — as one might think. “I love watching my teammates play,” Herbig said as the Steelers gathered Wednesday at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex...
Steelers notes: Art Rooney Jr. advances in Hall of Fame consideration; Watt, Austin get weekly honors
Art Rooney Jr. is one step closer to becoming the latest Steelers representative in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A longtime member of the scouting department who was instrumental in building the Super Steelers of the 1970s, Rooney Jr. is one of nine individuals deemed “contributors” who on Wednesday...
Tim Benz: 6-pack of questions (and some answers) about Steelers heading into byeVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers are heading into their bye week at 6-2. In a weird sort of dichotomy, that is exactly where they have to be, but we also don’t have much of a right to expect them to be better than that. Given their offensive line issues, new faces on...
