Joe Rutter stories, Page 86
Wolf administration, Steelers at odds over face-covering mandate for players
The office of Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday that the Pittsburgh Steelers have not been granted an exemption that would allow players to go without masks during games at Heinz Field for the rest of the 2020 season. That contradicted a statement released by the Steelers on Wednesday that said...
Randy Fichtner hints that FB Derek Watt could play bigger role in Steelers offense
Derek Watt hasn’t provided the durability he displayed before the Pittsburgh Steelers gave him a three-year, $9.75 million contract. The 28-year-old fullback — and older brother of Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt — has appeared in just five games this season after playing in 64 consecutive games during his four...
Ben Roethlisberger proving difficult to bring down during Steelers’ perfect start
Ben Roethlisberger is debunking the theory that the more times a quarterback drops back to pass the more likely he is to get sacked. In his 17th season, at age 38, Roethlisberger will take his second-longest streak of pass attempts without a sack into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game Sunday against...
Steelers claim exemption from governor; players won’t wear masks on field
While athletes and coaches in Pennsylvania are required to wear masks under orders from Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration, the Pittsburgh Steelers believe the team and their opponents do not fall into that category. “We have received guidance from the Governor’s Office that our players are exempt from wearing masks during...
Intensive protocol environment against covid-19 to become the norm for NFL, Steelers
At the end of their third week adhering to the NFL’s intensive protocol guidelines, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be getting some company. Make that plenty of company. The league announced Wednesday that, beginning Saturday, all 32 teams will be placed into intensive protocol because of the surge in coronavirus cases...
Mike Tomlin admits Steelers running game is ‘below the line’
Mike Tomlin no longer is downplaying the problems with the Pittsburgh Steelers run game. Two days after insinuating his undefeated team could continue to thrive despite a stagnant rush offense, Tomlin reversed course Tuesday at his weekly news conference, calling the running game “ineffective.” “We spent a lot of time...
Mike Tomlin says 9-0 Steelers won’t underestimate 1-8 Jaguars
The difference in win-loss record is astounding, yet Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin is not about to take the Jacksonville Jaguars lightly. The Steelers will put their 9-0 record on the line Sunday on the road against the Jaguars, whose 1-8 record is second-worst in the NFL. And with the...
5 things we learned: Time for Ben Roethlisberger to join the NFL MVP talk
Five things we learned from Steelers 36, Bengals 10: 1. Big award for Big Ben With the Steelers continuing to roll along as the NFL’s only unbeaten team, is it time to give credit to the player most responsible for that happening? Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s name will start surfacing as...
Despite no practice, Roethlisberger leads Steelers to easy win over Bengals
Less apparently is more when it comes to preparation time for Ben Roethlisberger. Much like Allen Iverson did two decades ago, Roethlisberger stated his case Sunday that practice is overrated. The 17-year veteran didn’t look like a quarterback who didn’t take a snap all week in practice judging by the...
Steelers CB Mike Hilton inactive for 4th game in row with shoulder injury
All four players that were removed from the reserve/covid-19 list for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday are active and will play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Heinz Field. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, linebacker Vince Williams, tackle Jerald Hawkins and running back Jaylen Samuels will be in uniform. Roethlisberger and...
Steelers activate Ben Roethlisberger, 3 others; Kevin Dotson placed on reserve/covid-19 list
Ben Roethlisberger did a lot of studying in his week while away from his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates. Some teaching, too. Activated from the reserve/covid-19 list Saturday, Roethlisberger talked about what it was like to sit out practice all week before participating in the team walkthrough in advance of the Steelers’...
James Washington comes up empty when Steelers use new wide receiver formation
James Washington’s versatility has worked against him the past two weeks for the Pittsburgh Steelers. When the Steelers went to a four-receiver, one-tight end formation in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys, Washington remained planted on the sideline. Instead of using Washington, the Steelers turned to...
Ben Roethlisberger remains on track to be activated, start for Steelers against Bengals
Coach Mike Tomlin remains confident quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be activated from the reserve/covid-19 list Saturday and start the following day against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Roethlisberger is cleared to rejoin the team Saturday, the Steelers will conduct what Tomlin termed an “extended walkthrough” in their final preparation before playing...
Steelers await 1st matchup with Bengals’ No. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow
Growing up in Athens, Ohio, Joe Burrow found himself literally smack in the middle of an NFL football rivalry. Cincinnati was 130 miles away to the west. Pittsburgh loomed 135 miles to the northeast. “There were definitely more Steelers fans than Bengals fans growing up,” Burrow said this week. “That...
Avery Williamson preparing for whatever role Steelers give him against Bengals
For Avery Williamson, the emotion he experienced Sunday could be considered uncharted territory in 2020. For the first time this season, the veteran linebacker got to celebrate a victory — even if he had nothing to do with it. A day after officially joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, Williamson watched his...
Randy Fichtner: Steelers ‘continue to prepare’ as if Ben Roethlisberger will start vs. Bengals
The Pittsburgh Steelers are continuing to devise a gameplan for the Cincinnati Bengals with Ben Roethlisberger in mind. Although the Steelers won’t know until Saturday whether Roethlisberger can be activated from the NFL’s reserve/covid-19 list, offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner is installing plays for Sunday’s game with the 17-year veteran in...
Steelers turn to Cameron Heyward to help out younger players on defensive line
The method isn’t as simplistic as one if by land, two if by sea, but if Karl Dunbar wants to make sure his words are resonating with the young players on the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line, he turns to captain Cameron Heyward. “I think he has always been my Paul...
5 things we learned: Road work contributes to Steelers’ record-setting 8-0 start
Five things we learned from Steelers 24, Cowboys 19: 1. Road warriors It’s not just achieving the best start in franchise history that made this win historic for the Steelers. They reached the 8-0 plateau with a third road win in as many weeks. Counting the season-opening win at the...
Strong second half by JuJu Smith-Schuster helps Steelers come back against Cowboys
ARLINGTON, Texas — When the Pittsburgh Steelers needed to make a second-half comeback for the second week in a row, Ben Roethlisberger went to his first option at wide receiver. And for the second time in as many games, JuJu Smith-Schuster didn’t disappoint. Smith-Schuster’s 31-yard touchdown reception on the first...
Steelers rally to beat Cowboys, move to 8-0 for 1st time in franchise history
ARLINGTON, Texas — Just when it looked like the Steelers would add another chapter to the ledger of road stinkers against teams with losing records, they used some fourth-quarter fortitude to extend the best start in franchise history. Trailing by 10 entering the final quarter, the Steelers scored 15 unanswered...
Avery Williamson to make Steelers debut against Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, Texas – Inside linebacker Avery Williamson, acquired from the New York Jets on Monday, will be in uniform for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Williamson didn’t officially join the Steelers until Saturday after he passed six days of coronavirus testing. He...
Steelers waive former Central Catholic, Penn State lineman Stefen Wisniewski
Stefen Wisniewski may never get to suit up for the Pittsburgh Steelers for a game at Heinz Field. Wisniewski, the Central Catholic graduate and former Penn State player, was waived Saturday to make room on the 53-man roster for linebackers Avery Williamson and Jayrone Elliott. The Steelers also waived running...
After running the ‘gauntlet,’ Steelers try to avoid road letdown at 2-6 Cowboys
Two years later, JuJu Smith-Schuster remembers the sick feeling the Pittsburgh Steelers had after losing on the road to a heavy underdog. The Steelers traveled to Oakland in December 2018 and were upset 24-21 by a Raiders team that had committed to relocating to Las Vegas and owned a 2-10...
Steelers prepare to stop Ezekiel Ellliott no matter who is at QB for Cowboys
Ask the Pittsburgh Steelers who they would rather face at quarterback Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, and chances are they will tell you it doesn’t matter. No offense to Cooper Rush or Garrett Gilbert, the journeymen passers that are vying for the Cowboys starting job this week. It’s just that...
Steelers deal again with coronavirus issues outside their locker room
The Pittsburgh Steelers showed earlier this season they could navigate around the distractions caused by a covid-19 outbreak in an upcoming opponent’s locker room. Now, they will see how they respond to an outbreak involving a team they just played. With Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey testing positive for coronavirus...
