Joe Rutter stories

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Rookie first-round pick Derrick Harmon is active and expected to make his Pittsburgh Steelers debut Sunday against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. For the first time this season, Harmon was not included on the list of game-day inactives. Harmon injured his knee in the preseason...

When they face the New England Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally won’t have to deal with two of their longtime nemeses. It has been a lengthy wait. For the better part of two decades, coach Bill Belichick and Tom Brady were the unsolvable puzzle for...

New safety Jabrill Peppers flashed a sly smile when asked if he might provide some intel on the New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponent this weekend. “I’ve been trying to learn the playbook here, man,” Peppers said, laughing. Translation: Peppers has enough on his plate after being signed by...

After two games, his team had a 1-1 record and allowed nearly 800 yards of offense that included 315 on the ground. Darius Slay witnessed how the 2024 season turned out for the Philadelphia Eagles, which is why he’s not panicking over the way the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense has played...

Backups, and one in case a third-stringer on the depth chart, could be starting at four positions for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense Sunday when they play the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Isaiahh Loudermilk, who was starting because of attrition at defensive end, and outside linebacker Alex Highsmith will...

Five things we learned from Seahawks 31, Steelers 17: 1. Having thirds The Steelers made a personnel change on third down to open the game, and it didn’t have the desired impact. Quite the opposite. Seattle converted a third-and-6 and a third-and-10 on the initial possession en route to a...

It was a gaffe that played out before a paid crowd of 66,347 and was witnessed by millions of people on network television. And it was a pivotal mistake that contributed to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium. When rookie Kaleb Johnson...

Star wide receiver DK Metcalf introduced himself Sunday to the home fans with his first career touchdown catch as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Metcalf’s 2-yard TD reception from Aaron Rodgers gave the Steelers their first lead against the Seattle Seahawks. It turned out to be their only lead...

Giving up 30 points for the second game in a row wasn’t how the Pittsburgh Steelers, armed with the NFL’s highest-paid defense, were expected to start the season. For all the money being paid to the collection of All-Pros, Pro Bowlers and former first-round draft picks, the Steelers aren’t getting...

Exuberant from a season-opening win Sunday, Ben Skowronek, son of a Connellsville native, turned a phrase that showed he is in tune with Steeler Nation in general and yinzers in particular. “In Pittsburgh, PA, we play all three phases: offense, defense and special teams,” Skowronek said in the aftermath of...

It looked like a case of deja vu based on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ inability to defend the run Sunday in their season opener against the New York Jets. Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, though, didn’t get those vibes as he exited MetLife Stadium following a 34-32 victory against the New York...

Cameron Heyward didn’t want his contract to remain unsettled until the eve of the Pittsburgh Steelers season opener. But he’s happy to have negotiations in the rearview mirror. “I only realized how I’m more relieved because I’m sleeping a lot better,” Heyward said Thursday, speaking publicly about his contract for...

Broderick Jones didn’t want to start his season that way. He didn’t want Aaron Rodgers to be sacked on the first snap. He didn’t want to be responsible — directly or otherwise — for three of the four sacks taken by Rodgers in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 34-32 victory Sunday against...

Safety Jabrill Peppers officially joined the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday, but he wasn’t the only player added to the 53-man roster. Cornerback James Pierre was signed from the practice squad, and the Steelers placed two players on injured reserve. Linebacker Malik Harrison and quarterback Skylar Thompson were added to the...

Mike Tomlin made one thing clear about his offense Tuesday at his weekly news conference: He doesn’t want to see his 41-year-old quarterback on his backside four times on a weekly basis. Aaron Rodgers was sacked four times — and hit seven overall — in the Steelers’ 34-32 victory against...

Mike Tomlin thinks so highly of Jabrill Peppers that he mistakenly thought the former Michigan star safety was a high first-round pick when he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2017. Tomlin seemed to be taken aback when asked Tuesday whether the Steelers, who had shown pre-draft interest in...

Five things we learned from Steelers 34, Jets 32: 1. Dreaming big For the first time since the 2015 season, the Steelers put up 34 points in a second opener. For the first time since 2020 when Ben Roethlisberger was in his penultimate season, a quarterback had four touchdown passes...

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — His “hold-in” during training camp didn’t generate the attention that Cameron Heyward’s did. He didn’t get an 11th-hour sweetener added to his contract even though, like Heyward, he has two years remaining on his deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chris Boswell also never publicly expressed disappointment...

Numbers in the NFL can deceive. The Pittsburgh Steelers defense last season served as a prime example of such deception. The final ranking showed that the Steelers defense finished eighth in points allowed — it represented a third consecutive top-10 finish — and No. 12 in yards. But anyone who...

A season that is light on appearances at Acrisure Stadium in the first two months and includes a “home” game overseas before an early bye week commences for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday when they travel to East Rutherford, N.J., to face the New York Jets. The Steelers are hoping...

Cam Heyward skipped his scheduled media availability session Thursday morning. He also skipped practice, which isn’t as unusual considering his age and status on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. His defensive coordinator, though, doesn’t plan on Heyward skipping the Steelers’ season opener Sunday against the New York Jets. Heyward continues to...