Steelers/NFL category, Page 299
Amid trade report, James Washington trying to carve out bigger role in Steelers offense
A minor ankle injury to Chase Claypool provided James Washington the chance to work with the Pittsburgh Steelers first-team offense in practice Wednesday. Opportunities to get such reps with the starters have been few and far between for the fourth-year receiver and former second-round draft choice. It’s the reason reports...
1st-year WR Cody White gets reps with Steelers starters
A hamstring injury hindered Cody White for about two weeks earlier during training camp. He’s hoping it doesn’t hinder his chances at making the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 53-man roster. The first-year wide receiver is an intriguing candidate to grab a roster spot at the bottom of a deep and accomplished position...
Steelers RB Kalen Ballage has potential to be total package
He looks every bit the 230 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame. He’s been clocked in the 4.4-second range in the 40-yard dash. He put his name in the record books in college. It’s easy to see why NFL teams would think Kalen Ballage could be a star. But on his...
Mark Madden: Steelers’ level of risk taking will make, or literally break, Ben Roethlisberger
Jacksonville may not start rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence right away, mostly because the Jaguars’ suspect offensive line would put this year’s first overall draft pick at too much risk. Cincinnati would have done well to follow that path with last year’s No. 1 pick, Joe Burrow. As a rookie, Burrow...
Inside the ropes: Steelers simulate regular-season midweek practice
The post-pandemic return of concerts to Heinz Field won’t happen until a Rolling Stones show in October. But that didn’t mean there isn’t something of a dress rehearsal happening there this week. The Pittsburgh Steelers under Mike Tomlin long have treated their third preseason game as a simulation for a...
Matt Canada ready for first glimpse of Ben Roethlisberger running Steelers offense
The concepts that first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada has introduced to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be put on display Saturday night at Heinz Field. Sure, it will be a scaled-back version of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense that Roethlisberger runs when he makes his preseason debut against the Detroit Lions. The...
Mike Tomlin gives strongest hint yet that rookie Kendrick Green has won center job
As he is wont to do, Mike Tomlin refused to fully tip his hand. But did the Pittsburgh Steelers coach on Tuesday tacitly confirm that Kendrick Green is his man at center this season? A rookie third-round pick, Green has taken first-team reps at center almost exclusively when healthy through...
Steelers cut kicker Sam Sloman, 4 others in 1st round of roster trimming
Kicker Sam Sloman, who missed an extra point and field goal in two preseason games, was among five players cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers roster on Tuesday. The Steelers had to get to the 85-player limit by 4 p.m. Also cut were wide receiver Isaiah McKoy, tackle Brandon Walton, defensive...
Steelers WR Chase Claypool leaves practice with left leg injury, not believed serious
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool needed the assistance of two teammates to make it off the Heinz Field turf after suffering an apparent injury to his left leg Tuesday. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and tight end Eric Ebron supported Claypool as he came off the field during the waning moments...
First Call: Oddsmakers set line on hot seat for Mike Tomlin; Gerrit Cole returns; Joe Burrow still out
Tuesday’s “First Call” tries to gauge how hot the seat really is (or isn’t) for Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Gerrit Cole returned to the mound in the Bronx. We’ve found a team struggling even worse than the Pirates. And Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow isn’t ready for game action...
Joe Schobert’s laid-back personality may have factored into trade to Steelers
The football X-and-O theories about why the Jacksonville Jaguars were willing to give former Pro Bowl linebacker Joe Schobert to the Steelers for a meager sixth-round draft choice have been well-discussed. The premise is that new Jags general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Urban Meyer didn’t see Schobert as...
Analysis: Kevin Colbert not taking usual patient approach to adding pieces to Steelers roster
In the preceding five seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert didn’t shy away from making moves in training camp that would add starters or role players to his team’s roster. Often, Colbert worked from a position of patience and deliberation. He typically would wait to see how the preseason...
Fans required to bring masks to Heinz Field for Steelers’ preseason game
The facemasks on players’ helmets won’t be the only masks that will be required when the Pittsburgh Steelers host a preseason game at Heinz Field this weekend. Fans will be required to bring masks for the 7:30 p.m. game against the Detroit Lions on Saturday, the Steelers announced Monday. Although...
Mark Madden: Dwayne Haskins should focus on long game with Steelers QB job
Sports media rule No. 1: When in doubt, write or talk about the quarterback(s). Dwayne Haskins is third-string, but Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman argued about him on ESPN. That rule especially applies to refreshing sports notes: The QB is the leadoff hitter. • Mason Rudolph is going to...
First Call: 2 Steelers revealed so far in NFL Network’s Top 100; news about Joe Schobert’s number
Monday’s “First Call” reveals the first two Steelers to appear on the NFL Network’s Top 100 list. New Steeler Joe Schobert is already dropping hints for fans to interpret. We find an interesting ratings twist from the NFL Hall of Fame game. And the Pirates have a mighty task ahead...
Tim Benz: Steelers are right to see value in Joe Schobert that Jaguars did not
I’m still struggling with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ decision to trade linebacker Joe Schobert to the Pittsburgh Steelers. During the 2020 NFL campaign, Schobert’s lone season in Jacksonville, the linebacker wasn’t as good as he had been during the previous four years in Cleveland. OK, I get it. However, look at...
Madden Monday: Steelers need to be cautious of looming spending spree
It’s no secret that the Pittsburgh Steelers will have a lot of salary cap space in 2022. According to OverTheCap.com, the most in the NFL at a projected $63.6 million. But if all the players Steelers fans want to retain get the money they are looking for, then that number...
Steelers inside the ropes: Dwayne Haskins continues to open eyes
The team portion of Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers camp practice began with Dwayne Haskins directing the only assured scores during the “seven shots” 2-point conversion simulation. Practice ended with Haskins leading the only drive that scored during a 2-minute drill simulation. And Haskins did that latter deed while leading the first-team...
Joe Schobert expects to be three-down inside linebacker in his role with Steelers
With his trade to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Joe Schobert finds himself being coached by his sixth defensive coordinator in as many NFL seasons. Schobert played under three coordinators in four seasons with the Cleveland Browns and two in as many training camps with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Keith Butler becomes No....
Steelers notes: Anthony McFarland better conditioned, more prepared in Year 2
By all accounts, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Anthony McFarland is having a better training camp this year than he had as a rookie in 2020. He’s most certainly had a better preseason; last year, the NFL did not play preseason games. The latter, McFarland’s position coach said, helps lead to...
Steelers’ Terrell Edmunds still working back from shoulder injury to begin contract year
First, coach Mike Tomlin revealed recently, came the offseason surgery for Terrell Edmunds. Then, the shot to the ego — and bank account — that was the Pittsburgh Steelers declining their 2022 contract option on him. Now, Edmunds has been navigating a training camp in which he’s been at less...
Inside the ropes: Defense excels as Steelers return to practice field
It was a big day for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense at practice Saturday. Returning to the field for the first time since playing in their second preseason game, when the Steelers shut out the Philadelphia Eagles in the second half, defense prevailed in “seven shots” to open practice and the...
Steelers notebook: Kevin Dotson works way into starting spot — for 1 day, at least
Clarity began to take shape Saturday on the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. Kevin Dotson, the projected starter at left guard, took his first snaps with the first-team offense, and rookie tackle Dan Moore, after taking reps entirely on the left side, practiced on the right side with the second team....
Mark Madden Hot Take: NFL taunting is stupid, not fun
The NFL plans to crack down on taunting. Only 10 flags were thrown for taunting last season. It was the league’s least-penalized infraction. It would be better if the NFL kept T.J. Watt from being held on every snap. Perhaps Watt circumvents that by refusing to play. Taunting has defenders,...
Minkah Fitzpatrick elevates his leadership to match his production for Steelers defense
Try as he might, Grady Brown missed out on the opportunity to coach Minkah Fitzpatrick six years ago. In the time that’s passed since, Fitzpatrick has grown from a New Jersey kid into a college All-American all the way to standout safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “It’s cool for me...
