Chris Adamski stories, Page 16

CINCINNATI — Does Joey Porter Jr. have a metaphorical target on his back in the eyes of officials? If so, the bull’s-eye was hit several times on Sunday. By yellow flags. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ No. 1 cornerback, Porter was flagged six times with four accepted penalties during his team’s 44-38...

CINCINNATI — Teammate Broderick Jones twice was compelled to put his arm around George Pickens in an effort to get through to him. Quarterback and captain Russell Wilson addressed Pickens on the sideline. Sunday’s 44-38 Pittsburgh Steelers win against the Cincinnati Bengals was a game in which Pickens showed how...

CINCINNATI — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III did not play after halftime of Sunday’s win against the Bengals and was being evaluated for a concussion after the game, coach Mike Tomlin said. Austin, who had a 23-yard touchdown catch in the 44-38 victory, twice was subjected to hard...

CINCINNATI — For a third consecutive game, starting outside linebacker Alex Highsmith was among the Pittsburgh Steelers’ inactives for Sunday’s matchup with the Bengals. Highsmith has not played since suffering an ankle injury late in the Nov. 10 win at the Washington Commanders. Coach Mike Tomlin had expressed optimism Highsmith...

1. To a Tee Joe Burrow is regarded as a premier quarterback, and Ja’Marr Chase is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. But is it Tee Higgins who holds the key to the Cincinnati Bengals offense? The Bengals’ No. 2 WR, Higgins has played six of Cincinnati’s...

Last meeting Steelers beat Bengals, 34-11, on Dec. 23, 2023, in Pittsburgh. Key matchup Bengals WR Tee Higgins vs. Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr. The Steelers like to deploy the rangy, willing-to-engage Porter against top opposing receivers with size, leaving veteran speedster Donte Jackson to handle receivers more his type....

As might be expected, security is typically tight at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. The parking lot is gated. A 50-foot curtain is available to shield the primary practice field. Facial-recognition software kiosks dot the facility at myriad checkpoints. But the most private areas where the proprietary information often is exchanged...

This autumn has been far from how Ryan Watts imagined his rookie NFL season. But the Pittsburgh Steelers’ second of two sixth-round picks is making the most of his situation. Watts, a defensive back from Texas, has been on injured reserve all season — and will remain so — after...

Starting defensive tackle Keeanu Benton was a mid-week add to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ league-mandated injury report, listed as a limited participant at Thursday’s practice because of a hip injury. Benton did not finish the Nov. 17 win against the Baltimore Ravens because of an unspecified lower-body injury, but he was...

Mike Tomlin has been wont to refer to playing AFC North games as being “in the kitchen.” Fitting, then, that over the Thanksgiving season the Pittsburgh Steelers are spending the better part of a month feasting in the intra-divisional kitchen. For the first time in the AFC North era, the...

Now out for more than two weeks for his ankle injury, Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith said he’s “feeling much better” and did not rule out a return to game action Sunday at the Cincinnati Bengals. During his weekly news conference Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin said Highsmith was “leaning...

If they aren’t the respective biggest and smallest offensive skill-position players in the NFL, each is close to it. The long and the short of it is Darnell Washington and Calvin Austin III are evolving into significant pieces of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. After relatively little usage in the passing...

Three-year Pittsburgh Steelers special teams captain Miles Killebrew was announced as the team’s nominee for the NFL’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award on Monday, an honor presented to “a player for their on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, and integrity in competition.” A safety by trade,...

In pro golf parlance, Saturday is “moving day,” the penultimate day of a tournament when players try to improve their standing to make a run at the title in the final round. For the Steelers, this time of year is similar. Particularly under Mike Tomlin, the stretch between mid-November and...

CLEVELAND — Myles Garrett finally had a signature game against his biggest rival. As in, both the team and peer at his position. Garrett had three sacks, a forced fumble and a tackle for loss on a fourth down in helping lift the Cleveland Browns to a 24-19 win against...

CLEVELAND — During the first half of Thursday night’s game, the Pittsburgh Steelers went “big” with a play involving backup quarterback Justin Fields. Twice. The results, however, were not good. On two short-yardage, “possession-down” occasions during the first quarter, the Steelers inserted Fields into the game in lieu of starting...

CLEVELAND – For the second time in three games since the team acquired Mike Williams, wide receiver Scotty Miller was deemed a gameday inactive by the Pittsburgh Steelers for Thursday night’s game at the Cleveland Browns. A six-year veteran who won a Super Bowl ring playing with Tom Brady’s Tampa...

Cameron Heyward is having one of his best seasons while playing as small a rate of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive snaps as he has over his decade-plus as a standout NFL starter. At age 35, Heyward remains among the league’s elite defensive linemen. Pro Football Focus grades him as the...

1. Go long on the lake Could a matchup with the host Cleveland Browns mean a big Thursday night for Russell Wilson, George Pickens and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ deep passing game? The Browns defense has proved susceptible to the big play through 10 games this season. They’ve allowed 36 passing...

SCOUTING THE BROWNS Last meeting Browns beat Steelers, 13-10, on Nov. 19, 2023 in Cleveland Key matchup Steelers QB Justin Fields vs. Browns front seven Fields is the backup at his position but for the first time since Russell Wilson took over starting duties in Week 7, during the Steelers’...

Cory Trice will have to wait at least another week to return for the Pittsburgh Steelers. A second-year defensive back who was part of subpackages the first three games of this season, Trice (hamstring) has been on injured reserve for nine weeks and will remain there despite returning to practice...

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin had his tongue firmly planted in cheek when he answered a question about Chris Boswell after Sunday’s win. “I’m tired of him getting player of the week,” Tomlin said after Boswell accounted for all the points in a 18-16 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. “He...

A pair of Super Bowl heroes from the Pittsburgh Steelers of two decades ago again have advanced on the road to Canton. Hines Ward and James Harrison on Wednesday were announced among 25 “modern-era” NFL players named as semifinalists for induction into the 2025 class of the Pro Football Hall...