Steelers/NFL category, Page 370
Baltimore Ravens add former Steelers tight end to practice squad
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday added free agent tight end Xavier Grimble to their practice squad, supplying in-house veteran depth at a thin position. Grimble, who appeared in 47 games over the previous four seasons with the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, was on the Ravens practice field...
Who is Alwyn Cashe and why did Alejandro Villanueva choose to honor him?
Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva is being both criticized and praised for taping the name Alwyn Cashe — an Army sergeant who died from injuries he received fighting in Iraq in 2005 — over the name of Antwon Rose Jr. on the back of his helmet for Monday night’s...
Mark Madden: This Steelers ‘D’ could be comparable to ’76 unit
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense in 1976 is regarded by some as the NFL’s greatest ever and is among the top five by acclamation. The current Steelers defense has a chance to approach those lofty heights. It won’t allow just 28 points over its last nine games or post five shutouts...
Cam Heyward, Ben Roethlisberger unaware that Alejandro Villanueva chose not to honor Antwon Rose
Cameron Heyward, a team captain and a leader on the Pittsburgh Steelers social justice committee, was “surprised” that tackle Alejandro Villanueva did not display Antwon Rose Jr.’s name on the back of his helmet like the rest of his teammates in the season opener Monday night. Steelers players voted to...
First Call: James Harrison, others joke about Cam Heyward’s interception; Le’Veon Bell to injured reserve
In Wednesday’s “First Call,” how about a little ribbing between Steelers friends? Big-name receivers are in the trade rumor mill. And Le’Veon Bell is going on injured reserve. Stirring the pot Former Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster was always Mr. Nice Guy in the locker room. But he could stir...
Steelers shouldn’t overcomplicate an already dicey O-line situation
That was interesting for Steelers fans. While it lasted. Technically, did it even start? After months of discussion surrounding a revamped Steelers offensive line in 2020, it’s entirely possible the chosen unit will never play together in a regular-season game. Upon the retirement of left guard Ramon Foster after the...
Tim Benz: Mixed start for JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner redemption tour
Since Ben Roethlisberger was coming back to lead the Steelers offense in 2020, that was going to be good for everybody. Especially wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and running back James Conner. That was the preseason theory, right? Those two Pro Bowlers from 2018 regressed dramatically without Roethlisberger in the lineup...
Antwon Rose Jr.’s mother criticizes Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva for name change on helmet
The mother of Antwon Rose Jr. lashed out at Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Alejandro Villanueva on Tuesday night for not putting her son’s name on the back of his helmet for the team’s season opener one night earlier. In a Facebook post, Michelle Kenney criticized Villanueva for not adhering to...
Injury forces Steelers to continue offensive-line turnoverVideo
A school of thought heading into this pandemic-affected 2020 NFL season was teams with the most continuity could have the best chance to thrive. Judging by how it has played out so far, that rationale doesn’t portend success for the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line. Although the line played its part...
Mike Tomlin takes blame for gaffe of Steelers playing one man short in opener
The Pittsburgh Steelers played Monday’s season opener with one more player than they had in the past, but it was one fewer than the maximum allowed — and one fewer than their opponent. The Steelers activated 47 players. The New York Giants made 48 available. Until the new NFL/NFLPA collective...
Special teams not too special for Steelers in opener
Because of developments such as Ben Roethlisberger’s return from injury and four rookies making debuts, Monday’s season-opening victory for the Pittsburgh Steelers was in some ways special. The Steelers’ special teams, though, were not. “Obviously,” coach Mike Tomlin said during his video news conference Tuesday, “we have some work to...
Mike Tomlin gave Alejandro Villanueva his blessing for using alternate helmet honoreeVideo
Saying that Alejandro Villanueva did discuss it with him beforehand, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin gave his blessing to Villanueva for putting a different name on the back of his helmet than the rest of his teammates. The Steelers’ starting left tackle, Villanueva put the name Alwyn Cashe on the...
Tomlin: Wisniewski, Conner questionable, Banner out for Week 2. DeCastro? ‘I don’t know’
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin began his weekly news conference by definitively declaring that right tackle Zach Banner would not be able to play in Sunday’s home opener against the Denver Broncos. Tomlin offered less clarity — albeit with more optimism — on the injury statuses of guard Stefan Wisniewski...
Defensive wrinkle heads list of 5 things learned in Steelers’ win against Giants
Five things we learned from Steelers 26, Giants 16: 1. Defense returns strong, adds wrinkles At first blush, it looked like the a continuation of the Steelers defense from 2019 what with the three sacks and two interceptions the group generated at the Meadowlands. Defensive captain Cam Heyward, though, noticed...
Tim Benz: First 2020 ‘Airing of Grievances/Feats of Strength’ after Steelers beat Giants
I know that 2020 has taken away some of our most beloved traditions. Thankfully, not Steelers football. At least it’s still on television, even if you can’t go to the games. And because the Steelers are playing, you get to continue enjoying our favorite Steelers postgame tradition here at “Breakfast...
Down went the ‘bell cow,’ so in came the (Benny) Snell cow to close out Steelers win
Last week, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin referred to James Conner as “our bell cow.” Monday, they turned to their Snell cow. Benny Snell Jr. had 19 carries for a career-high 113 rushing yards in helping the Steelers to a 26-16 season-opening victory at the New York Giants. “(Snell) was...
Mark Madden: After James Conner’s latest injury, time has come for Benny Snell football
James Conner is a great story. Pitt guy. Cancer survivor. We’ve heard the narrative umpteen times, and it is indeed inspirational. Conner even wrote a book. But the Steelers must move on from Conner as their No. 1 running back. Conner left Monday’s game at the New York Giants in...
Steelers lose offensive linemen Zach Banner, Stefen Wisniewski in season-opening victory
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Already minus their All-Pro right guard, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost his replacement and their new starting right tackle on consecutive plays in the second half of their 26-16 season-opening win Monday night against the New York Giants. Central Catholic grad Stefen Wisniewski, starting in place of...
Roethlisberger throws 3 TD passes in return, but Conner, O-line suffer injuries in Steelers’ win over Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ben Roethlisberger overcame a long layoff and some early rust to get the Pittsburgh Steelers off to a good start Monday night in their season opener. Playing for the first time in 365 days because of right elbow surgery, the 38-year-old quarterback threw three touchdown passes...
Steelers notebook: Team remains unified during pregame activities
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Keeping a promise to remain unified during the playing of the national anthem Monday night against the New York Giants, all Pittsburgh Steelers players stood for the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” but nobody from the visiting team was on the field for the Black anthem...
LB Ulysees Gilbert, RB Anthony McFarland inactive for Steelers in season opener
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — For the season opener against the New York Giants, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be have a special teams player and a converted safety as the only players available as the backups at inside linebacker. Ulysees Gilbert III, a second-year linebacker who was expected to compete for...
Steelers’ helmets to have Antwon Rose’s name on them throughout season
Helmets worn this season by the Pittsburgh Steelers will bear the name of Antwon Rose II. Rose was 17 when he died after being shot by an East Pittsburgh police officer in June 2018. The officer, Michael Rosfeld, stopped a Chevy Cruze matching the description of a vehicle reportedly involved...
Madden Monday: Steelers opener; Penguins ‘in organic decline,’ see themselves ‘as what they were, not how they are’
The first game of the 2020 Steelers season is Monday night against the New York Giants. So Mark Madden and I start this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast with a heavy dose of football. But the Penguins conversation is intriguing as well. Those that follow the team are trying to figure...
Tim Benz: If Steelers don’t slow Saquon Barkley, Giants could pull off upset
If the Steelers are to win their season opener Monday night against the New York Giants, they are going to have to stop superstar running back Saquon Barkley. Check that. The Steelers are going to have to slow superstar running back Saquon Barkley. Stopping Barkley doesn’t happen very often. Just...
After offseason of ‘twists and turns,’ Steelers focus on Giants, Monday Night opener
That the Pittsburgh Steelers are playing their first game during the second week of September in a high-profile time slot is about the only thing that lends a semblance of normalcy to the 2020 opener. For the fourth time in six years, the Steelers open in prime time. The 7:10...
