Chris Adamski stories, Page 103
Inside the ropes: Interceptions aplenty from defense off Steelers QBs
It was only four years ago that Ben Roethlisberger proudly boasted he made it through the entire Pittsburgh Steelers training camp without throwing an interception. That certainly hasn’t been the case at the 2021 camp. Not for Roethlisberger, not for any of the four quarterbacks on the roster. Roethlisberger threw...
Dwayne Haskins aiming for No. 2 QB job in 2021, to be ‘future franchise QB’ thereafterVideo
Less than eight months after being released by Washington, 6 ½ months after signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers and two weeks into his first training camp with them, Dwayne Haskins is setting the bar high. Haskins was polite and understated during his first media session of camp Tuesday, but he...
Steelers sign RB Tony Brooks-James, release former PSU player Jarvis Miller
The Pittsburgh Steelers added another running back to their camp mix, signing former Oregon runner Tony Brooks-James on Tuesday. Brooks-James had bounced around the NFL since going undrafted in 2019, and three of his four career regular-season appearances were with the Steelers. Brooks-James had eight rushes for 7 yards and...
Craig Wolfley to join Steelers radio booth, Max Starks to serve as sideline analyst
Two-time Super Bowl-winning offensive lineman Max Starks was added to the Pittsburgh Steelers radio broadcast team, and Craig Wolfley will move to the booth alongside longtime play-by-play man Bill Hillgrove. iHeartMedia made the announcement in a release Tuesday, two days before the Steelers’ 2021 preseason opener in the Hall of...
Steelers’ Diontae Johnson relies on pre-practice routine to combat dropsVideo
When drops became an issue for Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Diontae Johnson early last season, he turned to an unlikely member of the team for help. Speaking to reporters after Monday’s training-camp practice at Heinz Field, Johnson detailed a new pre-practice routine he began last season that’s helped him keep a...
Inside the ropes: Plenty of long balls thrown by Steelers quarterbacks
Plenty has been made recently about the ability (or lack thereof) of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense to stretch the field by throwing deep. It was only one practice in a seven-week preseason, but if Monday’s training-camp session at Heinz Field is any indication, the Steelers won’t have any trouble airing...
Steelers hope Najee Harris’ impressive skillset translates into production for run game
When Najee Harris approached the makeshift podium in a corner of the Heinz Field playing surface Saturday, he addressed reporters in French. Harris was just being his usual gregarious and whimsical self. He isn’t actually fluent in French. What one of the highest-profile Pittsburgh Steelers rookies of recent decades does...
Steelers inside the ropes: Najee Harris already making up for subpar run blocking
On the first completed running play of in-field 11-on-11 drills during Saturday’s training camp session, the Pittsburgh Steelers defense line collapsed the offensive line and Najee Harris was dropped for a loss of about 3 yards. The following play began similarly, with the defense again getting good penetration as Ben...
Steelers notebook: Week before Hall of Fame induction, Troy Polamalu tests covid positive
Eight days before his scheduled induction ceremony into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Troy Polamalu revealed he has tested positive for covid-19. The former Pittsburgh Steelers star broke the news in a message posted to social media Friday. Polamalu, 40, indicated he is symptom-free. A safety who played 12...
Eric Ebron, Pat Freiermuth have potential to head ‘dynamic’ Steelers tight corps
Pittsburgh Steelers tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts was unwilling to divulge the nickname he bestowed upon his position group when speaking with media earlier this week. A few hours later, his most outspoken pupil, Eric Ebron, was more than eager. But for the more family-oriented outlets, Ebron needed to clean...
Marcus Allen, Buddy Johnson, Ulysees Gilbert III jockey for position among Steelers’ ILBs
The retirement of Vince Williams left the duo of Devin Bush and Robert Spillane as the unquestioned starters at inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers this season. The organization and those who follow it seem content with that. But what about the positional depth? Attrition, perhaps, is where Williams’ absence...
Undrafted rookie WR Rico Bussey out to prove he is not a mere 1-day camp darling
Mike Tomlin might not want to unnecessarily discuss rookie Rico Bussey. But the fans on hand at Thursday’s Pittsburgh Steelers practice probably do. One week into training camp, the wide receiver is an early candidates as the annual “camp darling” that gets latched on to during most Steelers preseasons. Thursday’s...
Steelers inside the ropes: Undrafted WR Rico Bussey steals the show
One of three undrafted rookies among an 11-man Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers corps in which there perhaps are six men fighting for one possible open spot, Rico Bussey has the odds stacked against him. The rookie who played at the University of Hawaii was designated as the star of Thursday’s...
Antoine Brooks Jr. says he learned from Mike Hilton, can replace him for Steelers
Antoine Brooks Jr. has the utmost respect for Mike Hilton. So don’t misinterpret what Brooks said about his former Pittsburgh Steelers teammate Wednesday. “Big shoes to fill — clown shoes,” Brooks said, clearly emphasizing the size of the figurative shoes Hilton vacated by signing as a free agent with the...
Inside the ropes: ‘Backs on backers’ revs up Steelers, Mike Tomlin
In his element perhaps like nowhere else, Mike Tomlin beamed in signaling the start of one of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp’s highlights: “Backs on backers.” “Chico!” Tomlin screamed from the middle of a gathering in the northwest corner of the Heinz Field playing surface early Wednesday afternoon. “Let’s go!” “Chico”...
RB Anthony McFarland more relaxed in Year 2, making plays at Steelers camp
As a big-play running back in college, Anthony McFarland sought to make a big splash during his first NFL season in 2020. Eleven games, 39 carries, 167 yards from scrimmage and no touchdowns later, humility isn’t the only lesson McFarland took from his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “Patience,”...
Devin Bush does plenty at 1st padded Steelers practice, but others still held back
The handful of Pittsburgh Steelers starters who’ve been limited so far during training camp for the most part continued to be so Wednesday. But a notable exception during the first padded practice was Devin Bush. The inside linebacker recovering from a torn ACL took part in a significant portion of...
In perhaps his final shot, TE Zach Gentry standing tall at Steelers camp
If nothing else, Zach Gentry stands out at Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. “He’s 6-(foot)-12,” Eric Ebron deadpanned. “And not a lot of people are 6-12.” Gentry is not quite 6-12, er, 7 feet tall. But at 6-8, the tight end is tied with tackle Zach Banner as the tallest offensive...
Ben Roethlisberger excused from Steelers’ 1st Heinz Field practice
For the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first practice of training camp at Heinz Field, the man who has played more games there than anyone was not present. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was not on hand at Monday’s workout. Coach Mike Tomlin said it was “for personal reasons.” “He’s been excused by me,” Tomlin...
Steelers’ Alex Highsmith more comfortable in Year 2, comfortable sharing timeVideo
As defensive coordinator Keith Butler was speaking to media from UPMC Rooney Sports Complex after the second practice of training camp late last week, only a handful of players were still working on the fields behind him. Among that dwindling group, there was perhaps only one player who is locked...
Steelers to keep Cameron Sutton outside, let Antoine Brooks, Arthur Maulet battle for slot
There seemed to be no shortage of possible scenarios when it came to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ plans for replacing Mike Hilton. Four days into training camp, barring something unforeseen, the list of possibilities appears to have been whittled to two. “It’s a good battle. You have a veteran and a...
Normally subdued T.J. Watt looking to take on bigger leadership role with Steelers
When it comes to T.J. Watt, the only thing that’s growing faster than his salary is his stature in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room. On the field, Watt has established himself as a centerpiece of the franchise. With training camp for the 2021 season underway, it’s almost inarguable that Watt...
Steelers notebook: Arthur Maulet gets his shot to play in the slot
One of the biggest questions as the Pittsburgh Steelers ramped up to training camp was: Who will replace stalwart Mike Hilton as the slot/nickel cornerback? After the second practice of camp, coach Mike Tomlin laid out his plans. “Right now, we are working (Arthur Maulet) and (Antoine Brooks Jr.) there,”...
JuJu Smith-Schuster sold on making impact for Steelers in 2021
Two days after endorsing a condom brand on his verified Instagram account, JuJu Smith-Schuster was back at it Friday as a pitch man. In the star receiver’s first media availability of Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, Smith-Schuster continued his sales job to his coaches to play on the outside in lieu...
Kevin Dotson, Stephon Tuitt, others limited as Steelers open camp, but none on PUP list
Of the 90 players who opened 2021 training camp on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, none earned the “physically unable to perform” tag. But that doesn’t mean everyone was going full-bore during Thursday’s first practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Mike Tomlin confirmed that guard Kevin Dotson, defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt,...
