Chris Adamski stories, Page 70
Steelers 4 Downs: Kenny Pickett excels at short-yardage QB sneaks
1. Kenny would As he enters his sixth NFL start Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has more touchdowns rushing (three) than passing (two). While the latter number would figure to improve, Pickett is creating enough of sample size on one aspect of the former that would seem to make...
Damontae Kazee brings fun, playmaking to Steelers defense
A serious lapse in judgment last October potentially cost Damontae Kazee tens of millions of dollars. A broken forearm during a preseason game cost him half a season. It hasn’t all been roses for Kazee over the past 13 months. But things are looking up for the playmaking safety —...
11 weeks into season, Steelers finally have entire defense healthy
The list is lengthy, but the overriding news is good for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Eleven players were on the league-mandated injury and status report when the practice week ended Friday, but of that 11 only one (cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon) was ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Witherspoon...
6 days after appendectomy, Steelers Minkah Fitzpatrick cleared to play in Sunday’s game
If T.J. Watt feels as if he can’t stand in the way of Minkah Fitzpatrick doing something, neither can a small vestigial organ at the junction of Fitzpatrick’s large and small intestines. Six days after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, Fitzpatrick on Friday was not listed on the league-mandated status report...
Steelers to expand Wildcat usage, Najee Harris says
Not unlike a scouting report he might give on an opposing linebacker’s range, Najee Harris on Friday played it straight with a concise assessment of his throwing arm. “It’s good,” the Pittsburgh Steelers running back said after practice. “Good, it’s good.” Can Harris make all the throws he’s asked to?...
Steelers stand behind kicker Matthew Wright after 2 missed FGs
Each of the past three Pittsburgh Steelers games has featured a different kicker. Danny Smith emphatically shot down any idea the Steelers might make it four kickers in four weeks. “There’s certain people in my life that I trust,” Smith, the Steelers’ special teams coordinator, said of Matthew Wright. “And...
Steelers’ Devin Bush, Larry Ogunjobi, Kevin Dotson, Minkah Fitzpatrick do not practice
Minkah Fitzpatrick did not practice four days after an emergency appendectomy. According to the injury report, six others joined him in sitting out the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first practice of the week. Inside linebacker Devin Bush sat out because of a knee injury that had not previously been made public. Also...
Steelers rookie DL DeMarvin Leal returns to practice, remains on IR
Defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal returned to Pittsburgh Steelers practice Wednesday, activating a 21-day window during which the rookie must be added to the 53-man roster off the injured reserve list or be lost for the season. Leal was placed on IR on Oct. 15 because of a knee injury and...
2-sack game earns Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith AFC Defensive Player the Week
The return of the defensive player of the year resulted in a defensive player of the week. Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Alex Highsmith was honored by the NFL as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week, it was announced Wednesday, three days after Highsmith had a strip sack among two...
Steelers rookie WR Pickens does his part in offense, remains patient
Anyone who saw George Pickens shine during training camp expected Pickens would be scoring touchdowns during the season. But could anybody have predicted his second NFL touchdown would come not on a fly route, not a contested catch, not a particularly acrobatic play but on a run between the tackles?...
Returns of T.J. Watt, Damontae Kazee contribute to Steelers’ dominant defensive effort
It was the defense that had its starters introduced to the Acrisure Stadium crowd during Sunday’s pregame. Among the final names announced to fans were a pair of players making their season home debut, Damontae Kazee and T.J. Watt. The former was greeted with the light (albeit warm) applause afforded...
Minkah Fitzpatrick underwent appendectomy soon after Steelers’ Saturday walkthrough
As far as his teammates could tell, Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Saturday wasn’t all that unlike the eve of any other Pittsburgh Steelers gameday. “We saw him during the walk-through and not thinking anything,” Cameron Heyward said offering a wry smile. “Minkah’s just, you know, Minkah’s grumpy all the time, so didn’t...
Steelers injury report: Myles Jack cleared, but held out of Steelers’ victory as precaution
Though he had missed the first two practices of the preparation week, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Myles Jack was deemed healthy enough to play in Sunday’s game. Jack was able and willing to play Sunday, but he did not get onto the field during the Steelers 20-10 win against the New...
Steelers come out running vs. Saints, finish with their best rushing game in 6 years
Najee Harris had more rushing yards in the first quarter Sunday than he’d had in the entire previous full game he’d played. The Pittsburgh Steelers, on whole, had more rushing yards in the first quarter than they’d had over the first 15 minutes of a game since 2018. Over four...
G Kevin Dotson and OLB Malik Reed in uniform for Steelers vs. Saints
Starting left guard and erstwhile starting outside linebacker Malik Reed played for the Pittsburgh Steelers during Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers home game against the New Orleans Saints. Dotson and Reed were listed as questionable on the league-mandated status report Friday, when Dotson was a limited practice participant because of an abdomen...
Steelers 4 Downs: Franchise has history of rebounding after 2-6 starts
1. 2-6 to 6-2 With no losing seasons in 15 previous years as an NFL head coach, it might be easy to fall into the trap that Mike Tomlin hasn’t been here before — “here” defined as coach of a 2-6 team. With the most wins of any franchise in...
Steelers prepare to face Saints’ do-everything threat TE/QB/WR Taysom Hill
With the state of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense this season, it isn’t all that uncommon that their upcoming opponent would have a player who has more career wins as a quarterback than the Steelers’ starter. It wouldn’t be notable, either, if an opposing player had twice as many touchdowns scored...
In 1st season as the literal center of the Steelers’ offense, Mason Cole earns respect
He’s the oldest starter on what is one of the youngest offenses in the NFL. Although Mason Cole doesn’t carry an official captaincy title for the Pittsburgh Steelers, in his first season with team, Cole is making his mark as one of the unit’s leaders. “Mason Cole is a hub...
Steelers lack TD of more than 8 yards this season; every other team has one of at least 23
The Pittsburgh Steelers are having trouble scoring points, which intuitively implies they are having trouble scoring touchdowns. But what might lack most is long touchdowns. The data, indeed, suggests long touchdowns are lacking at a level not seen in decades. SharpFootballAnalysis.com compiled a list of the longest offensive touchdowns scored...
Steelers’ Kenny Pickett bonding with receivers, confident INTs won’t persist
During down periods for the first-team offense at recent Pittsburgh Steelers practices, four of the team’s most recognizable players haven’t put the time to waste. Quarterback Kenny Pickett and his three most prized pass-catchers — Diontae Johnson, George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth — often have gathered to work on routes....
Matthew Wright re-joins Steelers with stronger, more proven leg than 2019 rookie stint
Matthew Wright’s first stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers was fresh out of college in 2019. Given Chris Boswell’s struggles the year before, it was reasonable to believe coach Mike Tomlin was genuine when he said the kicker job that season was an open competition. Boswell reverted to form, allowing him...
Coming off bye and with losses piling up, Steelers’ Mike Tomlin not thinking long term
Not long after the midway point of his weekly news conference Tuesday, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was asked if he is talking to his players about his prior experience being in charge of a 2-6 team. “No,” Tomlin said, before smiling. “I do not.” Tomlin couldn’t suppress a chuckle....
Steelers waive OLB Ryan Anderson, fill-in K Nick Sciba, clearing roster space for T.J. Watt
In yet another obvious sign that T.J. Watt’s activation is imminent, the Pittsburgh Steelers waived an outside linebacker among a handful of roster moves Tuesday. Ryan Anderson was waived, clearing a spot on the 53-man roster on the same day coach Mike Tomlin said that he was “optimistic” that Watt...
Mike Tomlin does not rule out possible promotion of Jaylen Warren to Steelers’ RB1
Outside of the necessitated response to the trade of Chase Claypool, the Pittsburgh Steelers have yet to make many changes in an effort to jumpstart their struggling offense. One possible such move, though, was not ruled out by coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday. Asked point-blank during his weekly news conference...
ILB Myles Jack, LS Christian Kuntz added to Steelers’ lengthening injury list off bye
Coach Mike Tomlin termed himself “optimistic about the inclusion” of injured veteran defensive players T.J. Watt and Damontae Kazee into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ lineup this week. But that doesn’t mean the Steelers aren’t without injuries coming off their bye. During his weekly news conference Tuesday, Tomlin listed seven contributors who...
