Joe Rutter stories, Page 73
Red zone is comfort zone for Steelers’ rookie tight end Pat Freiermuth
Pat Freiermuth missed by a year the chance to make money off his name, image and likeness rights in college at Penn State. The 6-foot-5 tight end is learning quickly, however, about the best way to profit in the NFL. It’s by making big and, at times, difficult catches in...
Ben Roethlisberger shines in debut with new offense; Steelers win
Ben Roethlisberger’s first try at running offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s offense couldn’t have gone better for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nothing beats perfection, right? When Roethlisberger departed after three series in the Steelers’ 26-20 preseason victory Saturday night against the Detroit Lions, he had a perfect 158.3 passer rating. With a...
Ben Roethlisberger embraces chance to play in front of fans at Heinz Field after dismal end to 2020 season
The lasting memory of Ben Roethlisberger’s previous game at Heinz Field was of him sitting on the bench with Maurkice Pouncey, the two teammates soaking in the bitter disappointment of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 48-37 loss to the Cleveland Browns in an AFC wild-card game. Pouncey retired a month later. Roethlisberger...
Mike Tomlin says Joe Schobert ‘adapting quickly’ to Steelers defense
Not only will quarterback Ben Roethlisberger make his preseason debut for the Pittsburgh Steelers, inside linebacker Joe Schobert will see his first game action of any kind with his new team Saturday against the Detroit Lions. Schobert, who was acquired a week ago from the Jacksonville Jaguars, will start when...
Inside the ropes: Cam Sutton gets 1st look as slot corner as Steelers expand search for starter
On a day when Antoine Brooks Jr. returned to practice for the first time since the Hall of Fame Game, the Pittsburgh Steelers worked Cam Sutton occasionally at the slot cornerback position Wednesday. Brooks took first-team snaps and rotated with veteran Arthur Maulet in the first two weeks of training...
Amid trade report, James Washington trying to carve out bigger role in Steelers offense
A minor ankle injury to Chase Claypool provided James Washington the chance to work with the Pittsburgh Steelers first-team offense in practice Wednesday. Opportunities to get such reps with the starters have been few and far between for the fourth-year receiver and former second-round draft choice. It’s the reason reports...
Matt Canada ready for first glimpse of Ben Roethlisberger running Steelers offense
The concepts that first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada has introduced to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be put on display Saturday night at Heinz Field. Sure, it will be a scaled-back version of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense that Roethlisberger runs when he makes his preseason debut against the Detroit Lions. The...
Steelers cut kicker Sam Sloman, 4 others in 1st round of roster trimming
Kicker Sam Sloman, who missed an extra point and field goal in two preseason games, was among five players cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers roster on Tuesday. The Steelers had to get to the 85-player limit by 4 p.m. Also cut were wide receiver Isaiah McKoy, tackle Brandon Walton, defensive...
Analysis: Kevin Colbert not taking usual patient approach to adding pieces to Steelers roster
In the preceding five seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert didn’t shy away from making moves in training camp that would add starters or role players to his team’s roster. Often, Colbert worked from a position of patience and deliberation. He typically would wait to see how the preseason...
Joe Schobert expects to be three-down inside linebacker in his role with Steelers
With his trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joe Schobert finds himself being coached by his sixth defensive coordinator in as many NFL seasons. Schobert played under three coordinators in four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and two in as many training camps with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Keith Butler becomes No....
Inside the ropes: Defense excels as Steelers return to practice field
It was a big day for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense at practice Saturday. Returning to the field for the first time since playing in their second preseason game, when the Steelers shut out the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half, defense prevailed in “seven shots” to open practice and the...
Steelers notebook: Kevin Dotson works way into starting spot — for 1 day, at least
Clarity began to take shape Saturday on the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. Kevin Dotson, the projected starter at left guard, took his first snaps with the first-team offense, and rookie tackle Dan Moore, after taking reps entirely on the left side, practiced on the right side with the second team....
Dwayne Haskins states case as No. 2 quarterback; Steelers rally to beat Eagles
PHILADELPHIA – Hindered by penalties on the first three drives, the offense wasn’t in concert when quarterback Mason Rudolph was in the game Thursday night for the Pittsburgh Steelers. When Dwayne Haskins entered in the second quarter, he made sweet music – and short work of the Philadelphia Eagles. The...
Steelers’ Kevin Dotson agrees with Mike Tomlin’s decision to put him on 2nd team
As he enters his second NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kevin Dotson is content getting his initial snaps of training camp with the second-team offense. Despite being a projected starter after the departure of the team’s top two guards, Dotson didn’t expect to be thrown immediately into the mix...
Joe Haden’s agent reaches out to Steelers about contract extension
If Joe Haden has his way, his fifth season with the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t be his last. Drew Rosenhaus, Haden’s agent, confirmed to the Tribune-Review he has approached the organization about signing his client to a contract extension. Haden, 32, is entering the final season of his deal that is...
Devin Bush, Zach Banner taking different paths toward returning to Steelers lineup
The second Pittsburgh Steelers starter to tear an ACL last season will be the first to return to a preseason game this year. Coach Mike Tomlin said over the weekend that inside linebacker Devin Bush will make his preseason debut Thursday at Philadelphia, and the former first-round pick acknowledged Monday...
Inside the ropes: Dwayne Haskins, Joshua Dobbs put to test in 2-minute offense
If all things are equal when a roster spot is at stake, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin likes to see how his players react in pressure situations as a determining factor. Tomlin put quarterbacks Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs to the test at the end of practice Sunday. Each quarterback...
Kevin Dotson returns to practice for Steelers, but works with second-team offensive line
Kevin Dotson, the projected starter at left guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers, took his first reps in team drills during practice Sunday at Heinz Field. Dotson, though, got his work in 11-on-11 periods with the second team instead of the first. Rashaad Coward, a free agent signed in the offseason,...
Troy Polamalu leads Super Steelers contingent at Pro Football Hall of Fame induction
CANTON, Ohio — Troy Polamalu kept his long flowing hair tied up Saturday night, but not for long. When he ultimately let it down, he took the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony along with it. With thousands of Pittsburgh Steelers fans cheering loudly while hanging on his every...
Offense struggles in first half before Steelers pull out 16-3 victory in Hall of Fame Game
CANTON, Ohio – Good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers that most of their offensive starters didn’t suit up Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game. With backup quarterback Mason Rudolph playing deep into the second quarter and only three anticipated regulars in the lineup, the Steelers were shut out...
With most of regulars sitting, Steelers offense shut out in 1st half of HOF Game
CANTON, Ohio — Good thing for the Pittsburgh Steelers that most of their offensive starters didn’t suit up Thursday night in the Hall of Fame Game. With backup quarterback Mason Rudolph playing deep into the second quarter and only three anticipated regulars in the lineup, the Steelers were shut out...
Steelers place DB DeMarkus Acy, OT Anthony Coyle on waived/injured list
One day before the Pittsburgh Steelers open the NFL’s preseason schedule by playing the Dallas Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game, they cut two players from their 90-man roster. Offensive lineman Anthony Coyle and defensive back DeMarkus Acy were placed on the waived/injured list Wednesday. No corresponding moves were...
Hall of Fame selection for Steelers’ Alan Faneca brings attention to unheralded guard position
For one of the best guards of this century, it took three tries as a finalist before Steve Hutchinson made the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “I thought it was an eternity,” he said. He could only imagine what it felt like for another dominant guard from his era, Alan...
Trailblazer Bill Nunn made his mark on Steelers during Hall of Fame career
The Pro Football Hall of Fame counts 33 players from historically Black colleges and universities among its membership. It’s a safe bet Bill Nunn personally scouted or conducted film study on nearly every one of them. What is known is Nunn was responsible for bringing three of those Hall of...
Art Rooney II on attempts to sign T.J. Watt: ‘Both sides want to get something done’
Art Rooney II is hoping the Pittsburgh Steelers can sign outside linebacker T.J. Watt to a contract before the start of the season. He also isn’t ruling out signing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to another deal after it. Rooney talked about the future of the team’s two most important players Tuesday...

