Joe Rutter stories, Page 35
Diontae Johnson’s return helps spark Steelers in productive 4th quarter of win over Rams
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In his return from injured reserve, Diontae Johnson wanted to provide a spark for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. He made several important plays in the Steelers’ 24-17 victory Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, with two coming in the decisive fourth quarter. On the...
Steelers rally in 2nd half, inch past Rams to keep pace in AFC North
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Off to another customary slow start, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense extended its slumber through three quarters Sunday afternoon at SoFi Stadium. That’s when the wake-up alarm finally went off against the Los Angeles Rams. Just in time, as it turned out. The Steelers dominated the Rams in...
A third of way through the season, can Steelers remain in hunt in ultra-competitive AFC North?
By the time the Pittsburgh Steelers walk off the field Sunday at SoFi Stadium, they could be in sole possession of first place in their division. They also could be tied for last. Such is the state of the tightly bunched AFC North where, one-third of the way through the...
Aggravated hamstring injury lands Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth on injured reserve
At the outset of the week, the Pittsburgh Steelers thought they were getting tight end Pat Freiermuth back for their game Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. On Saturday, they made a decision that will keep him out of the lineup for at least another four games. The Steelers placed...
Najee Harris used bye break to watch film in attempt to improve Steelers running game
Before he left Pittsburgh to enjoy his bye weekend in Atlanta, Najee Harris sat down to watch film of the Steelers running game through the first five weeks. He had a similar routine last year when he presented his findings to offensive coordinator Matt Canada. This time, Harris wasn’t alone....
Steelers preparing for ways to handle former Penn Hills, Pitt star Aaron Donald
When he lines up behind center, surveys the defense and sees Aaron Donald glaring menacingly back at him on Sunday afternoon, Kenny Pickett won’t be as awestruck as the first time he encountered one of the NFL’s most decorated defensive linemen. That came in 2017 after Pickett had graduated high...
Mike Tomlin anticipating return of ‘expert route running’ from Steelers WR Diontae Johnson
The play on which Diontae Johnson injured his hamstring in the season opener is one the Pittsburgh Steelers have been missing in his absence. Johnson caught a pass from Kenny Pickett 5 yards downfield, then he turned it into a 26-yard gain by juking his way down the field before...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin waiting before giving starting LT job back to Dan Moore Jr.
Just because Dan Moore Jr. took first-team reps in practice Monday doesn’t necessarily mean he will regain his starting left tackle job when the Pittsburgh Steelers play the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Coach Mike Tomlin isn’t ready to proclaim Moore as the starter, a position he held for two-plus...
Steelers inside linebackers look to build upon growth made against Ravens
Before Joey Porter Jr.’s interception that changed momentum last Sunday and led to the go-ahead touchdown for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kwon Alexander set the stage with a play that put the Baltimore Ravens in that passing situation. Alexander’s open-field tackle on tight end Mark Andrews resulted in a 1-yard loss...
Ben Roethlisberger aside, Kenny Pickett holds own against Steelers QB predecessors at start of career
When the Pittsburgh Steelers return from their bye and face the Los Angeles Rams next Sunday, quarterback Kenny Pickett will make his 18th career start. That’s one more than what constitutes an NFL season, which was expanded in 2021. Given that mile marker in Pickett’s nascent career, it seemed like...
Kicking instructor’s wish is to have Irish eyes smiling on Steelers, increase awareness in sport
On the day the Pittsburgh Steelers invited Irish kicking instructor Tadhg Leader and two of his students to attend their game against the Baltimore Ravens, he watched Australian Brad Wing handle the punting duties. Leader envisions the day when he can watch the Steelers turn to someone from his home...
Start vs. Ravens could be 1st in long run for Steelers rookie tackle Broderick Jones
George Pickens accelerated to a speed of 20.48 mph on his 41-yard touchdown reception Sunday that led the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. Next Gen Stats, the NFL’s statistical arm, didn’t calculate how fast Broderick Jones ran after the play, but the 311-pound rookie left...
Steelers QB coach impressed with Kenny Pickett’s pre-snap communication, pocket awareness vs. Ravens
Kenny Pickett has gotten rave reviews for the way he changed the protection at the line of scrimmage Sunday before he threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to George Pickens that provided the go-ahead points in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. It wasn’t the first time in...
Steelers rookie CB Joey Porter Jr. may have to wait a bit longer before making 1st NFL start
Fans clamoring for Joey Porter Jr. to start at cornerback in the wake of his second-half showing against the Baltimore Ravens might be in for a letdown when the Pittsburgh Steelers return from their bye. Despite Porter’s interception in the end zone that changed momentum and set up the winning...
George Pickens becoming security blanket on offense for Steelers, QB Kenny Pickett
Through the first five weeks of the season, Kenny Pickett has watched his pass-catching options fall like leaves from a tree in October. He saw Diontae Johnson exit in a season-opening loss to San Francisco and land on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. In a Week 4 loss at...
Steelers stage late rally to stun Ravens, move into tie for 1st place in AFC North
It was a game the Pittsburgh Steelers needed to win if they wanted to take some positivity into their bye week. They ultimately did, although it was difficult at times to fathom how exactly they exited Acrisure Stadium on Sunday with a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. Outplayed for...
Ready or not, Steelers rookie class could be thrust into spotlight against Ravens
Not unlike a father teaching a child to ride a bike, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been careful about how much playing time they have given to their rookie class at the outset of the season. They have tried not to overwhelm the rookies, allowing them to develop at their own...
As he recovers from groin surgery, Cameron Heyward working to rejoin Steelers
Cameron Heyward doesn’t know when he will return to the Pittsburgh Steelers lineup because of his groin injury that required surgery. He just knows it will happen at some point this season. “I’m working my tail off to try to get back,” Heyward said Thursday. “We’ll see when we get...
Matt Canada denies telling CBS that Steelers offense isn’t built to come from behind
His play calling and the lack of production by the Pittsburgh Steelers offense already has put Matt Canada in the crosshairs with an unhappy fan base. On Thursday, Canada found himself addressing another issue that has sparked outrage among Steeler Nation: his alleged comments to CBS that the Steelers’ offense...
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett wears brace, practices on limited basis in return from knee injury
Wearing a brace to support his bruised left knee, Kenny Pickett practiced Wednesday and didn’t experience any limitations in his return from an injury suffered Sunday in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans. “I’ll be ready to go by Sunday,” Pickett said, referring to the Steelers’ upcoming...
Najee Harris says Steelers played soft against Texans, coaches not to blame for offensive woes
Najee Harris didn’t mention Matt Canada by name, but the Pittsburgh Steelers running back seemed to throw some support behind the team’s embattled offensive coordinator Wednesday when he met with the media. Harris said the Steelers played “soft” last Sunday in a 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans and indicated...
Steelers add former 2nd-round pick Denzel Mims to practice squad
Former second-round draft pick Denzel Mims was one of two players the Pittsburgh Steelers signed to their practice squad Tuesday. Mims, a 6-foot-3, 207-pound wide receiver, and tackle Obinna Eze were added to the practice squad, while the Steelers released running back Greg Bell and wide receivers Jalen Camp and...
Practice habits are biggest change Mike Tomlin will make on heels of Steelers’ 24-point loss
Mike Tomlin promised changes. And they’re coming … in the way the Pittsburgh Steelers practice. Two days after saying he wasn’t going to maintain the status quo after a 30-6 loss at Houston, Tomlin said his players will don pads for the first time in three weeks Wednesday when the...
Mike Tomlin laments not kicking field goal, explains call on failed 4th-and-1 play
If he had known the outcome of the fourth-down play, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin would have trotted out kicker Chris Boswell to attempt a long field goal near the end of the third quarter last Sunday afternoon in Houston. “But I don’t get do-overs,” Tomlin said Tuesday. So, Tomlin...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin: Kenny Pickett to test injured knee in practice
Kenny Pickett is scheduled to practice Wednesday to gauge whether he can return from a left knee injury and start at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in their AFC North matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Pickett hobbled off the field and was taken to the locker room late...
