Robert Spillane picks up slack as Steelers play without Myles Jack

Robert Spillane had been waiting for the chance to play every snap in an NFL game. Until Sunday, the opportunity had never presented itself for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ fifth-year inside linebacker.

That’s not unusual considering Spillane is third linebacker in the Steelers rotation and had started only 11 of 44 career games until the Steelers’ 20-10 victory against the New Orleans Saints.

But with Myles Jack bothered by a knee injury, Spillane not only started, he didn’t miss a defensive snap. He was the only non-defensive back to play all 47 snaps.

“I prepare to do that every week,” Spillane said. “It didn’t come as a surprise to me to be out there. I expect to do that every game.”

Spillane’s previous high came last year at Kansas City when he played 66 of 69 snaps in a 36-10 loss. Joe Schobert was the only inside linebacker to play every snap in a game in 2021, doing it twice. Devin Bush has done it seven times in his career but not since returning from his ACL team in 2021.

Spillane also wore the green dot communication device and received props from teammates on the way he relayed plays calls on defense.

“That is super important when we’re at home and it’s loud,” outside linebacker T.J. Watt said. “He did a good job of communicating, and he made some big plays for us.”

Spillane led the Steelers with seven tackles, including one for a loss. He also was credited with the tackle on the fourth-and-1 stop of Saints quarterback Andy Dalton in the fourth quarter. Dalton was stopped for no gain, giving the ball back to the Steelers with 7 minutes, 44 seconds left.

“The defensive front did a great job of surging up front, knocking him back,” Spillane said. “I was able to come off the edge and make the play.”

Tight end talk

On a day when the Steelers inducted Heath Miller into the Hall of Honor, second-year tight end Pat Freiermuth honored him by wearing a pair of commemorative cleats.

The cleats included Miller’s No. 83 and the tight end’s likeness. Freiermuth said he will give the cleats to Miller, the most decorated tight end in franchise history.

If Miller has an admirer in Freiermuth, then the feeling is mutual.

“I think he’s a great player,” Miller said before the game. “The team is lucky to have him. He seems like a good kid who wants to get better.”

Freiermuth was targeted a team-high seven times against the Saints and totaled four catches for 36 yards. He has 36 catches for 403 yards with eight games remaining.

Miller and Freiermuth talked before the game and have remained in touch since the Steelers took Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 draft.

“I tell him I’m not in the building any more, so I don’t know the details of what they’re asking him to do, but he has a lot of talent,” Miller said. “I’ve played here in the city, and he knows that, so my phone is always open for him to call.”

Quick healer

Despite having an appendectomy Saturday, free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick didn’t miss any time with his Steelers teammates even if he couldn’t play in their game against New Orleans.

Fitzpatrick was on the sideline for the game, and he sat on a chair in front of his locker Monday during media availability looking no worse for wear.

His teammates didn’t learn of his bout with appendicitis until after the Steelers’ walk-through Saturday morning. Fitzpatrick complained of discomfort, which led to the appendicitis diagnosis.

“That was scary. That’s a serious injury that he had, a serious situation,” strong safety Terrell Edmunds said. “But now, just seeing him walking around, talking, laughing, that’s always good.”

Alualu honored

Nose tackle Tyson Alualu was named the Steelers’ recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which is given to a player from all 32 NFL teams and is based on a player’s inspiration, sportsmanship and courage.

The vote was conducted by Alualu’s teammates. He was picked for the way he rebounded from the 2021 season when he sustained a season-ending ankle injury in the second game.

Bush was the Steelers’ recipient in 2021.