Joe Rutter stories, Page 71
Steelers don’t have answer for Bengals’ ‘picket fence’ on late fourth-down play call
The picket fence isn’t just a basketball play made famous in the movie “Hoosiers.” It’s also a defense the Cincinnati Bengals use when they try to keep opponents from converting from long distance. And it was the reason Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t throw a pass into the end...
Injuries, gaffes pile up as Steelers lose to Bengals
For the first time since their season-opening stunner in Buffalo, the Pittsburgh Steelers head back to the road with a trip to Green Bay next weekend. Playing at historic Lambeau Field might provide the type of venue the Steelers need to recapture that Week 1 recipe for success. They certainly...
T.J. Watt downgraded, will miss Steelers’ game against Bengals with groin injury
On the eve of their game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers learned they will be without both of their starting outside linebackers. T.J. Watt, who had been limited in practice the entire week of preparation, was downgraded to out Saturday because of a groin injury he suffered in...
Steelers trying to figure out which OLBs will be available to play against Bengals
The two players listed ahead of him on the depth chart at outside linebacker are dealing with groin injuries. So are cornerback Joe Haden and inside linebacker Devin Bush, who each didn’t play in Week 2 for the Pittsburgh Steelers because of the same issue. Don’t ask Melvin Ingram III,...
Steelers hope 3rd-year defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs can ‘step up’ to replace Tyson Alualu
After slowly being integrated into the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line rotation in his first two seasons, Isaiah Buggs is seeing his development being accelerated this year. And it’s not by design. Tyson Alualu’s right ankle fracture has elevated Buggs into the starting nose tackle role on the defensive line. Buggs...
Steelers, Mike Tomlin trying to balance winning with developing young offensive line
His 39-year-old quarterback is absorbing too many hits. His rookie running back isn’t getting enough yards. His offensive line isn’t providing enough protection or opening enough holes, a double-edged sword of trouble for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. Coach Mike Tomlin is keenly aware of the problems. Answers are what he...
Steelers add former 1st-round draft pick Taco Charlton to practice squad
Four years ago, Taco Charlton was picked two spots ahead of T.J. Watt in the NFL Draft. On Tuesday, they became teammates. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Charlton, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound defensive end, to the practice squad. The transaction was made one day after nose tackle Tyson Alualu was placed on...
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger added to injury report ahead of Week 3 game with Bengals
Add quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and another outside linebacker with a groin injury to the growing Pittsburgh Steelers’ injury report. Roethlisberger suffered a left pectoral injury in the Steelers’ 26-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. And Alex Highsmith became the...
Analytics group laments Mike Tomlin’s ‘surrender’ with 4th-and-1 punt in Steelers’ loss
Five things we learned from Raiders 26, Steelers 17: 1. Fourth down debate Mike Tomlin’s decision to punt on fourth-and-1 from the Steelers 34 with 8 minutes, 36 seconds left and his team trailing by nine points didn’t just flummox what was left of the announced 63,707 attendance at Heinz...
Steelers place Tyson Alualu on injured reserve, sign Henry Mondeaux from practice squad
One day after fracturing his right ankle in the first quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Tyson Alualu was placed on injured reserve Monday. Henry Mondeaux was promoted from the practice squad to take Alualu’s spot on the 53-man roster. Alualu, who is in his fifth...
4th-quarter ejection of Steelers guard Trai Turner displeases Mike Tomlin
Two players were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in the fourth quarter Sunday of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 26-17 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at Heinz Field. That Steelers guard Trai Turner was the only one ejected from the game bothered coach Mike Tomlin. Turner and Raiders defensive tackle Solomon Thomas...
Banged-up Steelers drop home opener to Raiders
Forget all of the positive vibes the Pittsburgh Steelers generated with their season-opening win at Buffalo. Any goodwill the Steelers established a week ago wilted in the 79-degree heat at Heinz Field amid a sea of injuries and big second-half plays that enabled the Las Vegas Raiders to spoil the...
Fresh approach of rotating 3 outside linebackers proving effective for Steelers
Keith Butler has a couple hundred reasons why he likes to develop a rotation at the Pittsburgh Steelers’ outside linebacker positions. It doesn’t matter if it’s hot and sticky in September or cold and damp in December that influences the defensive coordinator’s plan. It’s the size of the guards and...
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s creativity in Steelers secondary brings up memories of Troy Polamalu
The way Minkah Fitzpatrick was deployed on defense in the season opener for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was reminiscent of a certain safety who just a few weeks earlier was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Defensive coordinator Keith Butler isn’t calling Fitzpatrick the next Troy Polamalu, but...
Matt Canada gives winning grade to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s Week 1 performance
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada didn’t grade Ben Roethlisberger’s performance at Buffalo as harshly as Pro Football Focus, which rated the Pittsburgh Steelers passer as the NFL’s worst quarterback in Week 1. Yes, he was ranked even lower than Aaron Rodgers, who finished with a 36.8 passer rating in a 38-3...
Steelers notebook: Defensive line rotation pays off in opener without Stephon Tuitt
The absence of defensive end Stephon Tuitt wasn’t felt Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers swarmed Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen throughout a 23-16 victory. Allen, who was in MVP consideration last year, was sacked three times and led the Bills to just one touchdown in the season opener. The Steelers...
Ben Roethlisberger praises Steelers WRs for final drive vs. Bills
Given a chance to run out the clock or pad their lead in the fourth quarter Sunday at Buffalo, the Pittsburgh Steelers tried to accomplish a little bit of each objective. And they relied on the arm of 18-year veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to get it done. The result was...
After season-opening road win, Steelers’ Mike Tomlin not taking Raiders lightly at home
Based on what transpired Monday night in the desert, the Pittsburgh Steelers hope that what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas. Rallying from a 14-point deficit, the Las Vegas Raiders beat the Baltimore Ravens, 33-27, in overtime, making them a formidable opponent when they meet the Steelers on Sunday at...
Steelers notebook: Tre Norwood becomes latest versatile piece of secondary
The rookie draft class was expected to be heavily involved for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their season opener at Buffalo. Nobody, though, could have predicted that the most-used rookie would be seventh-round defensive back Tre Norwood. Norwood was one of five rookies to start against the Bills — six if...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin hopes players keep fans energized at home opener
For the first time in two seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers will play a game in front of a capacity crowd at Heinz Field when they face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday in the home opener. Coach Mike Tomlin is hoping his players do a better job of keeping the...
Relentless pass rush among 5 things worth savoring from Steelers’ win at Buffalo
Five things we learned from Steelers 23, Bills 16: 1. Pass rush to judgment Any concerns about the Steelers being able to piece together a pass rush with Stephon Tuitt on injured reserve, Bud Dupree in Tennessee and T.J. Watt coming off just three practices didn’t last long. From the...
Diontae Johnson celebrates Steelers’ return trip to Buffalo with go-ahead TD catchVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — When Diontae Johnson left the field in the first quarter Sunday, it was reminiscent of his previous visit to Highmark Stadium in December. The difference was, Johnson left with an injury and not because he was benched for dropping too many passes. The third-year wide receiver...
Second-half surge leads Steelers to season-opening upset at Buffalo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – After a first half spent perpetually swimming upstream, the Pittsburgh Steelers roared back in the second Sunday with the ferocity of water churning over nearby Niagara Falls. Down by 10 and shut out at intermission, the Steelers scored 20 unanswered points and upset the Buffalo Bills,...
Ready or not, Steelers will unveil new-look offense in season opener against Bills
Ben Roethlisberger answered each time in the affirmative when asked this week whether he was nervous or excited about what awaits the Pittsburgh Steelers offense Sunday in Buffalo. Matt Canada, on the other hand, called it just another day at the office. No matter the perspective of a veteran quarterback...
Steelers, T.J. Watt reportedly agree to contract extension making him NFL’s highest paid defensive player
With the season opener just three days away, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally made outside linebacker T.J. Watt the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. According to a NFL Network report, the Steelers and Watt agreed Thursday to a four-year deal worth $112 million and includes $80 million in guaranteed money....
