Steelers/NFL category, Page 277

The picket fence isn’t just a basketball play made famous in the movie “Hoosiers.” It’s also a defense the Cincinnati Bengals use when they try to keep opponents from converting from long distance. And it was the reason Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t throw a pass into the end...

For the first time since their season-opening stunner in Buffalo, the Pittsburgh Steelers head back to the road with a trip to Green Bay next weekend. Playing at historic Lambeau Field might provide the type of venue the Steelers need to recapture that Week 1 recipe for success. They certainly...

Leading receiver Tee Higgins is among three Cincinnati Bengals starters who are not in uniform for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers because of injury. Higgins, who has a shoulder injury, was officially listed as doubtful to play on the Bengals’ league-mandated injury report. Right guard Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee) was,...

Last Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger 10 times in 7 minutes took the blame for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ struggling offense. Four days later, offensive coordinator Matt Canada maintained a similar pace of accountability, referencing in some way the need to get “better” 14 times in his 9-minute session with media. By Friday,...

On the eve of their game against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers learned they will be without both of their starting outside linebackers. T.J. Watt, who had been limited in practice the entire week of preparation, was downgraded to out Saturday because of a groin injury he suffered in...

1. (N)O-line The more advanced statistics and sophisticated metrics reveal what anyone watching the Pittsburgh Steelers offense this season already knows: Their offensive line is struggling. The Steelers emerged from Week 2 ranked last in the NFL in rushing yards per game (57.0) and 29th in yards per carry (3.3)....

On Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin said Najee Harris was getting better “with each passing quarter.” Thursday, offensive coordinator Matt Canada noted Harris’ improvement from his first NFL regular-season game to his second. Friday, the rookie running back himself judged his play to be on the ascent. In the wake of...

Not unlike how he might slip through a seam between two offensive linemen, T.J. Watt is hoping to prevent his chances of playing Sunday from slamming shut. “I felt like I did a good amount this week,” Watt said Friday, “to leave the door open for Sunday.” Per the league-mandated...

Pittsburgh Steelers guard Trai Turner regrets getting ejected from last week’s game. But he doesn’t necessarily believe his actions weren’t justified after a Las Vegas Raiders player spit on him early in the fourth quarter. “A serious action … took place,” Turner said Friday in his first session with the...

When Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger showed up for the first day of training camp wearing a black and gold “DIFFERENT” T-shirt, Micah Tyler could not have been prouder. Tyler, a nationally known Christian pop musician, designed the black shirt with gold lettering spelling “DIFFERENT” in three lines of three letters...

Before Vontaze Burfict and Adam “Pacman” Jones played in Cincinnati, the Bengals had plenty of other irritating players for Steelers fans. Perhaps none was more grating than mouthy wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Yes, he of the infamous Terrible Towel desecration. Well, Houshmandzadeh is still taking shots at the Steelers. And...

I had a realization looking at the Steelers’ extended injury list in advance of Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ben Roethlisberger’s iffy health status (pectoral injury) isn’t the chief concern. There was a time when the slightest whiff of an injury to Roethlisberger would send this city into a...

Friday’s “First Call” has Todd Haley discussing Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, video of Penguins legend Jaromir Jagr still scoring goals and news about Lamar Jackson’s absence from Baltimore Ravens practice. Also, the story of a kicker who helped beat the Steelers—and himself—at the same time. Going over old times Former...

A week of injuries that left the Pittsburgh Steelers with questions about their available personnel for Sunday’s game ended with answers beginning to crystalize. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger joined defensive starters Joe Haden and Devin Bush among those who practiced fully Friday and were designated as good to go against the...

Ben Roethlisberger and T.J. Watt were limited at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Thursday, and Joe Haden and Devin Bush were full participants three days before a Week 3 divisional game. Three players who would potentially start Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, though, did not practice because of injury: receiver Diontae...

The two players listed ahead of him on the depth chart at outside linebacker are dealing with groin injuries. So are cornerback Joe Haden and inside linebacker Devin Bush, who each didn’t play in Week 2 for the Pittsburgh Steelers because of the same issue. Don’t ask Melvin Ingram III,...

After slowly being integrated into the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line rotation in his first two seasons, Isaiah Buggs is seeing his development being accelerated this year. And it’s not by design. Tyson Alualu’s right ankle fracture has elevated Buggs into the starting nose tackle role on the defensive line. Buggs...

Speaking for the first time since his quarterback twice said he has no option to operate a no-huddle offense, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada indicated that won’t necessarily remain the case as the season goes on. “Ben (Roethlisberger) and I talk all the time,” Canada said Thursday. “If he...

During his time with the Steelers, I always found Mike Hilton to be one of the more friendly and genuine players in the locker room. An engaging person who really appreciated the role he earned while he was here. A role he eventually parlayed into a four-year, $24 million contract...

Thursday’s “First Call” tries to provide optimism for the Steelers run game. We found a little extra stress for Cincinnati Bengals coach Zac Taylor before his trip to Pittsburgh. Two former Pirates homer as their teams jockey for the postseason. And ex-Penguin Beau Bennett never ceases to entertain. Positive attitude...

The Steelers lost their home opener to the Las Vegas Raiders, and Pitt lost at home to Western Michigan. A weekend like that leads to a “U mad, bro?” edition like this. The messages I received from readers were venomous. Vindictive. Vicious. And, occasionally, vapid. I didn’t even include any...

Joe Schobert met T.J. Watt when both Pittsburgh Steelers linebackers were playing for the University of Wisconsin. Schobert was a walkon from Waukesha, Wis., Watt from 4 miles down the road in Pewaukee. Schobert remembers how injuries could not stop Watt from reaching his goals with the Badgers. “When he...

The Pittsburgh Steelers listed three of their four starting linebackers on the injury report Wednesday, but the good news is Devin Bush (groin) was a full participant at practice and T.J. Watt (groin) also practiced, but in a limited capacity. Alex Highsmith (groin) was one of five Steelers who did...

Hines Ward, who made 1,000 receptions not counting the touchdown grab that helped win Super Bowl XL, is among five former Pittsburgh Steelers named Wednesday as modern era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. Ward, who has been a semifinalist five times, is joined by...