Chris Adamski stories, Page 57

For five seasons of the most recently completed decade, one of Mike Tomlin’s favorite players in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room was a wide receiver who had all the physical tools but was never able to put it all together as an offensive threat in the NFL. That player, Darrius...

For their road game against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers deployed seven defensive backs who played at least 33 snaps. Throughout their road game against another AFC North opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers played seven defensive linemen. In 2022, perhaps as much as ever and...

Not bad work if you can get it: a reported $207,000 for about 6 seconds on the clock. But that wasn’t necessarily what Renell Wren wanted out of the 2022 NFL season. A defensive tackle who entered the league as a fourth-round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, Wren...

There might not be any greater “bro-mance” in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room than Zach Gentry and Pat Freiermuth. So when the Steelers posted a sideline interaction of the two tight ends from a December game that involved each saying to the other, “I love you,” it was fitting. But...

Robert Spillane uses a creative metaphor to describe the feeling a professional football player endures at the sudden end of a season. “I’ve tried to describe this to lots of people,” Spillane said the day after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ recent season ended, “and the best way I can is to...

The longest passing play of what was arguably the biggest win of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season wasn’t thrown to whom you might expect. The clutch, skillful 28-yard catch over the middle at the two-minute warning of the Jan. 1 primetime victory at the rival Baltimore Ravens wasn’t by Diontae Johnson,...

Cameron Heyward is about to get a chance to show off his dodgeball skills. Heyward, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ longtime co-captain, was named to the AFC Pro Bowl roster Tuesday. Heyward initially was listed as an alternate at defensive tackle, and he was summoned when Chris Jones became unavailable because his...

By the nature of how quickly George Pickens showed he could be a playmaker in the NFL, it was fitting that he produced the Pittsburgh Steelers’ longest touchdown of the season in what was the final game as a rookie. After that win, during which he had a 31-yard score...

Six-year NFL veteran Chris Wormley’s smile revealed it was more a good-natured, ribbing generality than it was a commentary on the character of players who are in their first season in the league. “Rookies,” Wormley said, “are knuckleheads.” These knuckleheads, though — the ones who joined the Pittsburgh Steelers over...

When training camp began last summer, Anthony Miller was intent on earning a significant role among the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers corps for the 2022 season. Miller did — just not the role he was seeking. “Seeing that I am the oldest guy in the room, I moreso put my...

It’s one former Super Bowl-winning Steelers assistant coach to another in regard to who’s coaching the Pittsburgh Maulers. Ray Horton, the Steelers’ secondary coach during their three most recent Super Bowl appearances, is taking over as head coach of Pittsburgh’s USFL franchise. Horton replaces Kirby Wilson, with whom he served...

When it comes to Diontae Johnson, perhaps the only thing more difficult to figure than his tweets these days is that he somehow made it through 17-game season without even one touchdown. According to pro-football-reference.com, Johnson in 2022 set dubious NFL records for most receptions (86) and targeted throws (147)...

When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming crop of unrestricted free agents, the heavy lean is to those on defense. Nine players who started at least one game on defense are scheduled to be UFAs, including four who were full-time starters. On offense, the pending free agent who played...

The Pittsburgh Steelers offseason has just begun — but the “legal tampering” period for unrestricted free agency begins a mere two months from Friday. As such, the Trib will take a look at each of the Steelers’ 18 players scheduled for free agency, and why (or why not) the Steelers...

For the first 12 days of the season, cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon never left the field when the Pittsburgh Steelers were on defense. From that point on, though, he barely made it onto the field. Witherspoon’s odds of getting on the field for the Steelers again might depend on the reason...

Running back Anthony McFarland is back for a fourth offseason with the Steelers. The team’s fourth-round pick in 2020 was signed Thursday to a reserve/future contract, adding him to the 90-man offseason roster. McFarland spent all but one game of this past season on the practice squad. During his lone...

Still at the top of his game, there is no tangible evidence Cameron Heyward’s NFL career is over. But whether it’s psychological or motivational or something else, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ longtime captain continues to decline to definitively say he will be back for a 14th season with the team. Speaking...

There was credible new NFL All-Pro balloting introduced for this season, and Minkah Fitzpatrick is on the inaugural team. Voted by his teammates as the Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 MVP last week, Fitzpatrick again was honored by peers with his selection as the first-team All-Pro free safety in balloting done by...

Wilkinsburg native and West Virginia safety Kenny Robinson was among four players signed to reserve/future contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. Robinson was a PIAA Class A all-state honoree while playing for Imani Christian, though he began his high school career at University Prep. A first-team Big 12 selection...

Nine of the players who finished the season on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16-man practice squad were formally kept in the organization for the offseason when they were signed to reserve/future contracts Tuesday. The moves keep the players on the 90-man offseason roster. The Steelers on Tuesday afternoon announced deals with...

Pat Freiermuth had the benefit of a long offseason in the event the knee injury he suffered in the season finale was significant. He certainly must pleased he won’t have to utilize all of it. Freiermuth, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ standout tight end, suffered what had the look of a potentially...

This past offseason, three significant members of the Pittsburgh Steelers roster were given big-money contract extensions. This coming offseason, there’s seemingly only one player who fits the criteria to receive such a multiyear contract. And the timing might not be better for Alex Highsmith, the outside linebacker who in his...