Steelers/NFL category, Page 21
Steelers notes: Offensive line finding its way, ILB Windmon added, new return man?
They were making expressive first-down gestures. Clapping their hands demonstratively. Jawing with defenders. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive linemen had the look of being as engaged as they have all season during the second half of their most recent game, Sept. 28 in Dublin. After a rough start to the regular season,...
Jaylen Warren full participant, Alex Highsmith partial, Jalen Ramsey out at Steelers practice
Mirroring what coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday, Wednesday’s league-mandated status report indicated a trio of starters are on track for a return to the Pittsburgh Steelers gameday lineup. Two others who suffered injuries during the team’s most recent game, though, continue to appear unlikely to play Sunday. Cornerback Joey Porter...
Short passing game that has worked for Steelers will be tested by Browns defense
No quarterback has released the ball quicker this season than Aaron Rodgers. No team has gained more yards after the catch than the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers have used the short pass efficiently enough to craft a 3-1 record coming out of their bye week. Rodgers, for one, sees no...
Mike Tomlin sees need for offensive improvement ‘in all areas’ before facing Browns’ tough defense
It’s not just teams in the AFC North that are struggling to find traction. Frankly, it’s the whole NFL. • There are no unbeaten teams left in the entire league, and it’s only Week 5. • The Eagles are 4-1 with the 30th-ranked offense in the NFL. Buffalo is 4-1...
First Call: Joe Flacco ‘welcomed’ trade to Bengals; Steelers and Ravens make roster moves
“First Call” for Wednesday has some roster moves for the Pittsburgh Steelers. We get Joe Flacco’s reaction to his trade away from Cleveland to Cincinnati. The Baltimore Ravens are trying to press some buttons. And a pair of former Pirates pitchers are squaring off in the Major League Baseball playoffs....
Steelers to try luck against another rookie quarterback in Cleveland’s Dillon Gabriel
Since the start of the 2016 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have faced a rookie quarterback on 14 occasions. They are 12-2 in those matchups. The chance to face another first-year passer will happen Sunday when the Steelers play the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium. Dillon Gabriel is expected to make...
Browns’ defense presents challenge for Steelers’ new-look jumbo package running scheme
The heavy offensive package the Pittsburgh Steelers successfully deployed against the Minnesota Vikings before their bye week might not be a one-game anomaly. Coach Mike Tomlin hinted Tuesday at his weekly news conference that the formation that enlists offensive lineman Spencer Anderson as a “jumbo” blocking tight end could be...
Mike Tomlin projects return of OLB Alex Highsmith, CB Joey Porter Jr. against BrownsVideo
Coach Mike Tomlin is encouraged about getting two of his injured starters back Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers return from their bye and play the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium. Tomlin said the “arrow is pointing up” on outside linebacker Alex Highsmith returning from a high ankle sprain and cornerback...
First Call: Patrick Queen’s warning about the Ravens; Mike Sullivan on coaching against the Penguins
Tuesday’s “First Call” has a signing of note by the Pittsburgh Steelers. We pass along an important reminder about the Baltimore Ravens from Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen. Mike Sullivan shares his thoughts about coaching against the Penguins. And Duquesne’s football team is honored for its home win last week. Make...
‘Nice to see those teams lose’: Steelers invigorated by AFC North struggles during bye
After the Pittsburgh Steelers wrapped up the first practice following their bye weekend, they weren’t bashful about acknowledging what they had witnessed within their own division during their downtime. “Every AFC North game, I watched,” linebacker Alex Highsmith said. “It was nice to see those teams lose this week. We’ve...
Steelers notes: Joey Porter Jr. ‘definitely… back for sure’ for Sunday’s game vs. BrownsVideo
While Joey Porter Jr. began his comments with media dutifully deferring to his head coach, he quickly made his own declaration about his health and status for the upcoming game. “Definitely,” the Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback said of his impending return to game action Sunday. “Yeah, I’m back for sure.” He...
Alex Highsmith ready to rejoin ‘sack party’ at outside linebacker for Steelers
Alex Highsmith was looking forward to accompanying the Pittsburgh Steelers to Dublin for their international game against the Minnesota Vikings. Instead, the veteran outside linebacker remained stateside as a concession to a high ankle sprain. For the second week in a row, he watched the game on TV as the...
First Call: Ravens still favored in AFC North; Steelers’ game in Ireland generates big money
Monday’s “First Call” features some surprising odds in the AFC North. The amount of money spent in Ireland during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ visit is through the roof. And there’s lots of college hockey news involving some Penguins prospects, Robert Morris and Penn State. Not believing what they are seeing Despite...
Madden Monday: ‘It’s amazing how bad the (AFC) North is’ — Steelers ‘should go 6-0 in that division’
The Pittsburgh Steelers just had a great week, and they didn’t even play. Mike Tomlin’s team was on its bye, and while the players rested following their win in Ireland last week, the rest of the AFC North lost. Cleveland fell to Minnesota in England, 21-17. The Cincinnati Bengals dropped...
League’s best YAC helps Steelers’ passing game stay afloat despite shallow throws
Only two quarterbacks entered NFL’s Week 5 with more touchdown passes than Aaron Rodgers, who is on pace for more than 3,300 passing yards this season. How is that possible, what with Rodgers’ passes on average this season ranking by far as the shortest intended and completed passes in the...
After slow start, Steelers’ defense sees improvement in stopping the run in back-to-back wins
The biggest issue facing the Pittsburgh Steelers defense last year continued to stand out like a highway construction project in the early weeks of the 2025 season. The difference was, the Steelers’ run defense wasn’t grinding anybody to a halt. Memories of that forgettable playoff performance against the Baltimore Ravens,...
Steelers 4 Downs: ‘Explosive’ runs on both sides of ball has been area of gradual improvement
1. Big runs up/down For a franchise whose ethos has long been embodied by running the ball well and stopping opponents from doing so, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ NFL ranks at each through four weeks could not have been heartening. Headed into their bye this weekend, the Steelers ranked 31st in...
Pittsburgh’s newest ‘Mr. Eligible,’ OL Spencer Anderson aids Steelers’ run game as extra TE
From 3,000 miles away, there was one of the almost 8 million television viewers whom Spencer Anderson was thinking about most during his debut playing football in Europe. “Every time I came in,” the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman said of last week’s game in Dublin, “I would yell to the...
Football Footnotes: How the Steelers can improve their offense during the bye
The Pittsburgh Steelers players won’t be on the field during the bye week. But hopefully the coaches are using the extra time to figure out ways to improve the offense. As good as 3-1 may feel right now, there is plenty of room for improvement, particularly on that side of...
First Call: Could Kenny Pickett, Russell Wilson really be moved again?; Gavin McKenna to make PSU debut
Friday’s “First Call” links Kenny Pickett’s name to trade speculation again. A pair of ex-Pittsburgh Pirates performed well in MLB playoff elimination games. Local college hockey is getting ramped up. And there is a full weekend of bounce-back potential for some regional college football teams. Pickett predicament Could ex-Steeler Kenny...
Special teams shaping the outcome of Steelers games through 4 weeks of season
Special teams contributed to the Pittsburgh Steelers winning their season opener in New Jersey. Special teams contributed to them losing their home opener a week later. And the good and bad of Danny Smith’s units were on display last weekend in Dublin. No matter the venue, special teams have played...
First Call: Steelers game in Ireland posts huge TV ratings; John Harbaugh fuzzy on Lamar Jackson’s status
Thursday’s “First Call” boasts some eye-popping ratings for Steelers-Vikings in Ireland. The Baltimore Ravens injury report is eye-catching as well. And in the Major League Baseball playoffs, one former Pirate nailed down a save for his team, while another is trying to extend his club’s season on Thursday. Early wake-up...
U mad, bro?: Mike Tomlin’s decision-making, Pirates’ failures anger fans
The Steelers are going into the bye weekend at 3-1 and in first place atop the AFC North. Nothing to complain about, right? Ha! That’s a good one! via GIPHY So long as Mike Tomlin is managing the clock and the Pirates are playing baseball, that’s never going to be...
Mentally sharp after month of ‘projects’ and ‘presentations,’ Steelers’ Will Howard eager to come off IR
No, the finger injury Will Howard suffered early during training camp didn’t compel the rookie quarterback to give up his playing career and try out coaching. And, no, the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t running Howard through any sort of rookie initiation akin to an intern not quite entrusted with any of...
First Call: Lamar Jackson’s injury timeline; ex-Steelers DB heading to NFC South
Wednesday’s “First Call” has news about a departing Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back. Lamar Jackson could be down for a while in Baltimore. The Atlantic 10’s commissioner wants a bigger NCAA Tournament. And we check in on some former Pirates in the MLB playoffs. Pillaging the practice squad The Tampa Bay...
