Steelers/NFL category, Page 228
Tim Benz: How the Steelers can replicate the 2021 season-opening upset in Buffalo this year in Cincinnati
The Pittsburgh Steelers began 2021 on the road in Buffalo as a 6 ½ point underdog against a Bills team that was coming off a division championship and was among the AFC Super Bowl favorites. Yet Mike Tomlin’s team won 23-16. This year they are opening on the road in...
Steelers rookie George Pickens wants to show off blocking abilities in season opener
George Pickens made his mark in his first NFL training camp with the type of body control and spatial awareness that led to a series of artistic catches which he carried over into the preseason. As his NFL debut approaches for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team’s second-round draft pick would...
After eventful offseason, Larry Ogunjobi to make Steelers debut vs. former Bengals teammates
Larry Ogunjobi’s first game with his new team is on the same field as his last game with his most recent team. It’s against that team, too. “We always say,” the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman said, “that God has a funny sense of humor.” Ogunjobi has had quite a ride...
Diontae Johnson deals with cramps; Cam Heyward, Chuks Okorafor sit out practice
For the second day in a row, wide receiver Diontae Johnson was a limited participant in practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In addition to dealing with a shoulder injury, Johnson was bothered by cramps Thursday. Miles Boykin said he had to take Johnson’s spot with the first-team offense when the...
Adrian Peterson set to box Le’Veon Bell, wants to play again
Adrian Peterson still wants to play in the NFL after he fights Le’Veon Bell in the boxing ring. A four-time All-Pro running back, Peterson is taking on the two-time All-Pro back Bell on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It’ll be the first boxing match for the former...
Dead last? Above average? Varied rankings for Steelers’ Mitch Trubisky among NFL starting QBs
After 18 years of a future Hall of Famer at the position, the Pittsburgh Steelers are learning how the other side lives in regards to their starting quarterback in 2022. Free-agent acquisition Mitch Trubisky was officially confirmed as the starter Tuesday. A day later, three national outlets who cover the...
Tim Benz: How Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt thinks he can improve upon an award-winning season in 2022
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and his brothers (J.J. and Derek) weren’t just youth football players growing up in Wisconsin. En route to their NFL careers, they played a lot of hockey, too. So Watt can appreciate an NHL analogy when there is one to make. That’s good because Watt...
First Call: NFL.com’s low rating for Mitch Trubisky; ex-Steelers WR retires; Heinz Field name-change gets bad poll results
Thursday’s “First Call” features an unfavorable view of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Meanwhile, a former Steelers wide receiver is walking away from the game. New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson may make his season debut in Pittsburgh. Gerrit Cole had a huge night for the Yankees. And Heinz Field’s...
U mad, bro?: Fans rally around Mike Tomlin and Kedon Slovis, lash out about Pirates and … craft beer?
The No. 1 tip I give to young sports journalists entering the workplace these days is to diversify. Get experience in front of the camera, on the radio and in print. Do some play-by-play. Try anchoring. Host a talk show or podcast. Join the student newspaper. Apparently, my readers are...
Not used to being a backup, Kenny Pickett willing to do all he can for Steelers as QB2
Since he was a young boy, Kenny Pickett has spent exactly 11 weeks of his life as a backup quarterback. Until Sunday, when he will be the No. 2 for the Pittsburgh Steelers in their season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. The only other time — presumably, ever in Pickett’s...
Franco Harris’ Steelers No. 32 joins roster of Pittsburgh pro team retired numbers
No. 32 became No. 14 when it comes to retired numbers by Pittsburgh’s pro sports franchises. The announcement Tuesday that No. 32 will – officially – never be worn again by any Pittsburgh Steelers player made for an aggregate 14 uniform numbers retired by the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins. Four-time...
Diontae Johnson ‘doing whatever I can’ to return from shoulder injury for Steelers opener
Diontae Johnson has two more days to return to full practice participation before the Pittsburgh Steelers open the season Sunday at Cincinnati. The Pro Bowl wide receiver might need them as he recovers from a shoulder injury he suffered in the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions. “It’s tough,” he...
Mason Rudolph, on Steelers future: ‘For now, I’m on this team’ as No. 3 quarterback
Given the way training camp and the preseason games unfolded, Mason Rudolph realized he wasn’t going to open the season as the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback. But to begin the year third on the depth chart — behind Mitch Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett — that had to be a...
Former Steelers WR Emmanuel Sanders retires after 12-year career in NFL
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders announced his retirement Wednesday after a 12-year NFL career that included six season in Denver, where he helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50. Sanders started his career in Pittsburgh in 2010 and joined the Broncos as a free agent in 2014. He...
Officially the Steelers’ starting QB, Mitch Trubisky looking forward to season opener
The depth chart released by Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Monday — and updated Tuesday — didn’t exactly come as a surprise to starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Not just because Trubisky took almost all of the first-team reps in practice in training camp and started all three preseason games....
Mark Madden: Mason Rudolph makes more sense as Steelers No. 2 QB, but it doesn’t matter
A tale of two things that don’t really matter but we nonetheless discuss: It doesn’t matter that Kenny Pickett is No. 2 on the Steelers’ depth chart at quarterback and that Mason Rudolph is No. 3. It wouldn’t matter if it was vice-versa, either. If Mitch Trubisky gets knocked out...
First Call: Steelers legends to be featured in ‘A Football Life’; Bengals’ Tyler Boyd on facing Steelers without Big Ben
There is some major media news surrounding a Pittsburgh personality. Tyler Boyd talks about facing his hometown team without Big Ben. Joey Porter’s son is opening eyes at Penn State. And NFL Films is featuring two Steelers legends. All that in Wednesday’s “First Call.” New gig Plum’s Pat McAfee has...
Should the Steelers stop after retiring Franco Harris’ No. 32 or add more numbers to the list?
Pittsburgh Steelers legend Franco Harris summed up what it meant to learn that his number was going to be retired by the franchise this September. “It’s like giving you flowers while you’re still around to smell them,” Harris said. I get that. In fact, I just recently wrote about that...
Tim Benz: ‘Clerical error’ or change of mind, Kenny Pickett as 2nd QB streamlines depth chart
I can empathize with Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. In my line of work, I’ve certainly flubbed occasional cut-and-paste commands in documents, too. A misidentified name. A stat line in the wrong place of the column. A quote in a story gets moved and doubled up. Hey, it happens. But...
OLB Alex Highsmith expected to return from rib injury, start Steelers’ season opener
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who didn’t play the entire preseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers because of a rib injury, is expected to be ready for the season opener, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. Highsmith said last week he was targeting a full return to practice...
Steelers to retire Franco Harris’ No. 32 during 50th anniversary of Immaculate Reception
The author of the greatest play in NFL history will have another immaculate moment to celebrate this winter. In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Immaculate Reception, the Pittsburgh Steelers will retire uniform No. 32 worn by Franco Harris, the team’s Hall of Fame running back. Harris’ number will...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin previews season opener at Cincinnati
Steelers fans have been looking forward to this week since January. The NFL’s regular season returns this week, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will open against the Bengals at 1 p.m. Sunday at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin held his first regular season press conference previewing the matchup...
Mitch Trubisky to start, Kenny Pickett moves to No. 2 on Steelers’ quarterback depth chart
Experience, mobility and decision-making were traits that led to the Pittsburgh Steelers signing Mitch Trubisky in free agency in March. They also are the reasons coach Mike Tomlin will go with Trubisky as the team’s starting quarterback when the season kicks off Sunday in Cincinnati. Tomlin confirmed Tuesday what has...
Rookie WR Calvin Austin III takes injured reserve designation in stride
Over the first two weeks of training camp at Saint Vincent College, few turned heads as much and as often as Calvin Austin III. The rookie wide receiver’s daily routine as the regular season begins is much different. “I’m just putting in work in the training room, in the meeting...
No more ‘or’ — Kevin Dotson, Devin Bush, Ahkello Witherspoon atop Steelers depth chart
There is no more “or” on the first team of the Pittsburgh Steelers official depth chart. Six days before their regular-season opener, the Steelers released the league-mandated depth chart. It is non-binding, and with so many subpackages and different personnel groupings, the term “starter” at many positions is more ambiguous...
