Chris Adamski stories, Page 135

James Conner’s first full game since October wasn’t a true full game in that he played 58% of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive snaps Sunday night. Still, that was by far the most of any Steelers running back, and coach Mike Tomlin insisted Conner wasn’t on a “rep count” during the...

According to the NFL’s official play-by-play register, the Pittsburgh Steelers attempted a direct snap to a running back three times during Sunday’s game. The best of those three plays was a 3-yard loss. It was that kind of night for the wildcat formation, and troubles with its usage played a...

For the first time in his young career, Duck didn’t fly high. But Devlin Hodges insists a four-interception performance hasn’t shaken his confidence he can play in the NFL. “You hate to lose,” Hodges said after a 17-10 defeat to the Buffalo Bills, “but I think after the first loss,...

Usually, it’s Steelers Nation that’s lauded for its tendency to pack opposing team’s stadiums. Sunday night, it was Bills Mafia that took over Heinz Field. Several thousand Buffalo Bills fans made the trip to Pittsburgh, and they left happy after a 17-10 victory by their team clinched the franchise’s second...

1. DPOY joy The NFL’s official analytics arm, Next Gen Stats, listed its seven top contenders for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Two — T.J. Watt and Minkah Pitzpatrick — are Pittsburgh Steelers. Among the statistics cited in making a case for Watt were two based on quickness: an...

Diontae Johnson, James Washington and Deon Cain have been drafted since JuJu Smith-Schuster joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. That Smith-Schuster still remains the wide receivers corps’ youngest member doesn’t mean he’s not the most accomplished or experienced. “He’s always in our ear giving us advice for running certain route,” Washington said...

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without their No. 1 wide receiver and No. 1 tight end Sunday. It’s uncertain whether their No. 1 running back will play, either. JuJu Smith-Schuster will miss a fourth consecutive game because of a knee injury, and Vance McDonald will sit out his first because...

When Devlin Hodges addressed the media earlier this week as the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was one day after the three-month anniversary since he had been unemployed and back home in Alabama. But as “Duck” prepares to make his fourth NFL start Sunday, Steelers coaches are increasingly...

JuJu Smith-Schuster was downgraded Thursday to a limited practice participant on the Pittsburgh Steelers official injury report. A day after practicing fully for the first time since suffering a knee injury during a Nov. 14 game at the Cleveland Browns, Smith-Schuster’s status for Sunday’s AFC showdown with the Buffalo Bills...

Bud Dupree’s eyes lit up when someone asked him if he knew how many times Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had fumbled this season. “Is it a lot?” Dupree asked, glowingly. Yes, Bud, it is — 14 times, in fact, the second-most of any player in the NFL. “Oh yeah,...

The best game of Diontae Johnson’s young career earned him his first NFL award. Johnson was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Wednesday, three days after his 85-yard punt return for a touchdown helped propel the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 23-17 win at the Arizona Cardinals. Mike Tomlin...

Sticking to character, Devlin Hodges knew exactly how to downplay the prospect of playing a football game in subfreezing weather for the first time in his life. “Ducks like it when it’s a little bit colder anyway,” said the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback whose ubiquitous nickname, of course, is “Duck.” It...

The NFL’s official draft page included 21 quarterback prospects in advance of this past spring’s draft. Devlin Hodges was not on the list. With good reason, it turned out, as only 11 of the 21 tracked by the league’s official news outlet ended up being drafted. Included were four from...

It’s been more than two decades since the Buffalo Bills beat the Pittsburgh Steelers – and more than a quarter century since they won in Pittsburgh. The Bills (9-4) visit Heinz Field on Sunday in a game that was flexed into primetime in part because the matchup of two teams...

1. King James In an unlikely Pittsburgh Steelers season of improbable storylines and unsung heroes, perhaps lost in the proverbial shuffle over recent weeks has been the emergence of James Washington. It was only about a month ago that Washington’s career had the appearance of one careening perilously close to...

At age 36 and in his 16th season, Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald still is producing like a No. 1 option. “Man, I just always got a high level of respect,” Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said of the Cardinals captain. “And I’m never surprised when I turn the tape...

Diontae Johnson was seemingly making plays immediately after his promotion to “starter” status just three games into his rookie NFL season. By November, especially with JuJu Smith-Schuster seeing his production down and now out because of injury, Johnson had the look of the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver. In recent weeks,...