Steelers/NFL category, Page 166
Stock up, stock down for Steelers after concluding 3-0 preseason
After getting out to leads of 27-7, 27-0 and 24-0 in their preseason games, the result actually will matter for the Pittsburgh Steelers the next time they (using Mike Tomlin parlance) “go into the stadium.” But in the 16 days in between, they’ll cut 37 players, assemble a practice squad,...
Kenny Pickett, Steelers cap perfect preseason by routing Falcons
ATLANTA — It was another perfect start for the first-team offense and quarterback Kenny Pickett, who capped his preseason with a perfect passer rating. Pickett engineered two more touchdown drives in the two series he played, and the Pittsburgh Steelers showcased their big-play offensive capabilities once again in a 24-0...
Kendrick Green gets start at right guard for Steelers’ preseason finale against Falcons
ATLANTA – Kendrick Green was in the starting lineup Thursday night for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons. Just not at the position he spent much of training camp practicing. And, no, he was not at fullback, either. The third-year offensive lineman, getting one last...
Tim Benz: Fantasy football tips, Steelers projections, as draft season is upon us
The Steelers and the rest of the NFL are wrapping up the preseason this weekend. That means it’s fantasy football draft time. My team, “Hodgepodge of Nothingness” (thanks for the inspiration, Dennis Eckersley), won my league last year. I could offer you some advice. Or I could offer you the...
First Call: 49ers reveal QB depth chart for opener vs. Steelers; new ACC expansion talk; will McCutchen hit 300th vs. Cubs?
Thursday’s “First Call” gets the full breakdown of the San Francisco 49ers quarterback depth chart as they prepare for the regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. We also have the network broadcast team for that game, and a little Steelers-Niners history from an opening-day perspective. Plus, we examine the latest...
U mad, bro?: Steelers preseason hype, RB1 debates, SMU in the ACC and lanternflies
There is only one thing that has truly made me mad this week. Lanternflies. Gawd, do I hate those things! I feel like I’m in the Battle of Stirling scene from “Braveheart.” “We’re outnumbered … at least three to one!” Watch the video I posted of the war zone that...
5 things to watch for in Steelers preseason finale at FalconsVideo
When the Pittsburgh Steelers opened their preseason Aug. 11, the high temperature in Tampa was 96 degrees. When the Steelers conclude their preseason 13 days later in Atlanta, the forecasted high is — again — 96 degrees. Mike Tomlin embraces finding ways for the elements to challenge his team during...
Pumped-up Steelers optimism not yet impacting gambling lines
Two strong preseason results and a training camp free of injuries to star players has yielded wild optimism about the Steelers within the team’s fanbase. On Monday, I was listening to our colleague Mark Madden on his talk show on 105.9 The X. He was taking numerous calls from fans...
First Call: 49ers sign ex-Steeler in advance of opener; Antonio Brown in trouble yet again
The San Francisco 49ers don’t have Nick Bosa in the fold yet, but they do have a pretty good resource for information on the Steelers. Antonio Brown is in hot water again, and the Steelers may be on their way to tackling the NFL’s next marketing genius. All that in...
Tim Benz: This position group will result in the hardest cuts for Steelers coaches
Heading into Thursday night’s preseason finale in Atlanta, one good thing about the 2023 Steelers is that it doesn’t appear there will be many players kept on cutdown day (Aug. 29) just to round out the depth chart. That hasn’t necessarily been the case at the bottom of the roster...
Last chance for Chandon Sullivan, Elijah Riley to state case for Steelers’ slot corner job
When the ball is teed up for the final game of the preseason Thursday night, perhaps no position group on the Pittsburgh Steelers will be scrutinized in terms of a starting job more than slot cornerback. Coach Mike Tomlin admitted Tuesday that the competition between Chandon Sullivan and Elijah Riley...
On cusp of Steelers preseason finale, Joey Porter Jr. takes 1st-team reps
Savvy enough as the son of a former NFL player and aware of his status as a rookie, Joey Porter Jr. isn’t ready to announce lineup decisions. “That,” Porter said after practice Tuesday, “is for the big man upstairs.” Porter didn’t clarify if he was referencing Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike...
Kenny Pickett seeks consistency as Steelers offense gears up for preseason finale
After making token appearances in the first two preseason games, Kenny Pickett is preparing to play longer than two series when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. How much longer remains to be seen. “They’ll pull us when they pull us,” Pickett said Tuesday as the Steelers...
Steelers again will play (most) starters in preseason finale at Falcons
Most — but perhaps not all — of the starters will be in the lineup and taking the field in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason finale Thursday at the Atlanta Falcons. While Steelers coach Mike Tomlin left himself a qualifier by saying, “By no means am I guaranteeing that everyone plays,”...
Tim Benz: Steelers defense views preseason finale against Falcons as ‘great test’ for 49ers in regular season opener
On the surface, one might think that a road game in Atlanta may not be the most effective tune-up for the Pittsburgh Steelers secondary in its final preseason game. After all, no team in the NFL ran the ball more times (559) than the Falcons did last season. With the...
First Call: Star is returning to future Steelers opponent, while another stays away; Ravens finally lose in preseason
Tuesday’s “First Call” eyes up some opponents on the Pittsburgh Steelers schedule. The Baltimore Ravens saw an end to their record-setting preseason win streak. Nick Bosa may be in jeopardy of missing the season opener at Acrisure Stadium for the San Francisco 49ers. The Las Vegas Raiders should be getting...
Matt Canada on carries for Steelers RBs: ‘Najee (Harris) is our 1. There’s no doubt about that’
Something pretty well-known about Pittsburgh sports fans is that we really do love our backups. The backup quarterback. The backup goalie. The young prospects on the farm for the Pirates. Players who we have seen in brief flashes that we immediately believe will be better than the guy who is...
Steelers taking extended preseason look at undrafted rookie OLB David Perales
Those who have watched the Pittsburgh Steelers throughout this preseason have seen one Steelers player more than any other. Not the high-profile Kenny Pickett or T.J. Watt but a relatively unknown undrafted rookie in David Perales. An outside linebacker, Perales has played 98 snaps through two preseason games — four...
Is Steelers’ offensive success sustainable? Answers may come in preseason finale
The good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers is their first-team offense has scored a touchdown on each possession it has occupied the field during the preseason. The bad news, if you can call it that, is the offense hasn’t been given the chance to see if such productivity is sustainable...
Facing short turnaround for preseason finale, Steelers’ Mike Tomlin embraces challenge
Playing two games with only a four-day break in between isn’t the optimum way to close the preseason. That is what the Pittsburgh Steelers will face when they play the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday at Mercedes Benz Stadium. It will come on the heels of their 27-15 victory Saturday night...
Steelers sign outside linebacker Kuony Deng, receiver Aron Cruickshank; waive/injured 2 WRs
Just as their first practice at team headquarters in advance of the season was getting underway Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced the signings of outside linebacker Kuony Deng and receiver Aron Cruickshank. Waived last week by the Chicago Bears, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Deng finished last season with that organization. He...
Mark Madden: Small sample sizes being blown out of proportion in Steelers’ preseason games
The Steelers are winning the preseason. They might be preseason champs. It wouldn’t be a shock if Kenny Pickett gets preseason MVP. He’s the king of exhibitions: Three drives, three touchdowns. Pickett has performed very well. I wish he’d played more. Built additional momentum. But Pickett was excellent in last...
Tim Benz: Even with fast start, Steelers coaches have plenty to examine during preseason finale vs. Falcons
Everyone in Pittsburgh seems excited about how the Steelers have looked so far, and rightfully so. In their two victories to open up the preseason, the Steelers offense has been potent. The defense has created numerous splash plays. The special teams have been a plus. Considering the amount of good...
First Call: Surprising retirement for an ex-Steeler; Brock Purdy gets a preseason start; will Steelers see Bijan Robinson?
Monday’s “First Call” has word of a surprising retirement for a former Pittsburgh Steeler. We find out how the San Francisco 49ers are shaping up in advance of their regular-season debut at Acrisure Stadium. We check in on Atlanta’s plans when it comes to Bijan Robinson’s playing time against the...
Madden Monday: Not buying into the calls for Jaylen Warren to replace Najee Harris as Steelers’ 1st-team RB
Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is the flavor of the month in Pittsburgh. After his 62-yard touchdown run in Saturday’s 27-15 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills, you can certainly understand why. Warren averaged 4.9 yards per carry last year. Meanwhile, starting running back Najee Harris was at 3.8. The...
