Chris Adamski stories, Page 74
Steelers 4 Downs: Numbers suggest Kenny Pickett has been good against pressure, blitz
1. Good under pressure Dealing with pressure in general and designed blitzes in particular isn’t the only thing that can set a young quarterbacks apart. But it could foretell success in the NFL. And through six quarters as a pro, Kenny Pickett has done well when facing a pass rush....
No mere ‘Meatball’ – Connor Heyward expected to take on bigger role in Steelers offense
Connor Heyward is one of two literal little brothers among the Pittsburgh Steelers, so perhaps it’s no surprise he also is filling a “kid brother” role in his position room. As such, Heyward’s brush with rookie hazing came in the form of a not-entirely flattering nickname bestowed upon him by...
Steelers will be without 4 starting defensive backs, plus DL DeMarvin Leal vs. Bucs
The consensus greatest quarterback of all time is coming to Pittsburgh. And the Steelers will have to face him without four of their five top defensive backs. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon, Cameron Sutton and Levi Wallace all were announced as out for Sunday’s home game against Tom...
Isaiahh Loudermilk preps to make Steelers 2022 debut Sunday
By all indications, the Pittsburgh Steelers were generally pleased with Isaiahh Loudermilk’s rookie season. A defensive lineman for whom the Steelers aggressively traded up for in fifth round of the 2021 draft, Loudermilk appeared in 15 games, made two starts and seemed to make his presence felt over the 288...
Steelers RB Najee Harris has been playing with steel plate in his shoe
When it comes to limiting a power running back, you’ve heard of the Steel Curtain. But what about a steel plate? Pittsburgh Steelers featured back Najee Harris played the first five games of the season with one of those in his left foot, Harris said Friday. Harris suffered a foot...
Once part of the Steelers future, then forgotten, CB James Pierre getting another shot
A year ago this week, James Pierre was basking in the glow of a game-clinching interception during a game in which he was an every-down outside cornerback. It would have been easy to imagine then that, a year later, Pierre would be preparing to play a significant role in a...
Activation of Steelers WR Calvin Austin ‘possible,’ but ‘he’s a little rusty’
Speedy rookie Calvin Austin III could be worth a shot to help jumpstart the Pittsburgh Steelers’ ailing offense. But with two additional weeks remaining before he must be activated off the injured reserve list, Austin’s NFL debut isn’t necessarily coming Sunday. “It’s still possible,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said Thursday....
Steelers TE Zach Gentry returns to full practice, but 3 starters in secondary remain out
Tight end Zach Gentry returned to full participation at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Thursday and declared himself “ready” for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Gentry, typically the Steelers’ No. 2 tight end, did not practice Wednesday because of a knee injury. His availability could be critical because the status...
8 players sit out Steelers practice because of injury; Diontae Johnson, Pat Freiermuth limited
All three starting cornerbacks were among eight significant contributors on offense or defense who did not take part in Wednesday’s Pittsburgh Steelers practice because of injury. All eight of the ailments were previously known. Wide receiver Diontae Johnson and tight end Pat Freiermuth (concussion) were listed as a limited participants...
Shades-wearing Steven Sims says he will play for Steelers vs. Buccaneers
It was morning on an overcast day. And Steven Sims was indoors in a windowless room. Sims, though, was wearing black sunglasses. “Eyes are just a little sensitive to the light,” Sims said from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ locker room Wednesday. Understandable, after Sims took a direct hit from a football...
Steelers practice-squad CB Josh Jackson forced into action, eager to play more if needed
The circumstances, on whole, were surely not ones Josh Jackson will be particularly eager to recall when looking back at his NFL career. His team lost, 38-3. He was beat for a touchdown. A pair of teammates at his position went down with injuries. But Jackson’s 26 snaps at cornerback...
Jaylen Warren promoted to Steelers’ 3rd-down back, plays more snaps than Najee Harris vs. Bills
That Jaylen Warren played more snaps at running back Sunday than Najee Harris is not necessarily a sign Warren is beginning to siphon away Harris’ playing time. But an unofficial official designation bestowed upon Warren by the coaches is. Warren’s role is as the Steelers’ third-down back was one few...
Diontae Johnson responds to Ryan Clark saying Steelers ‘didn’t play like winners’
Ryan Clark criticized the effort and pride of players on his former team. A prominent current member of the team zinged back. Clark, a former Pittsburgh Steelers safety turned ESPN commentator, seemed put off by the Steelers’ 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. A day after posting to...
Kenny Pickett shows fight in losing 1st start with Steelers
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A competitor at his core, Kenny Pickett could not have enjoyed that his first NFL start was his team’s worst defeat in 33 years. But even a 35-point loss couldn’t completely sour this day for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ new quarterback. “Listen, I mean, it is my...
Steelers lose 4 starters to injury during blowout loss to Bills
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In addition to suffering their worst defeat in 33 years Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered injury losses to four starters during a 38-3 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi suffered a back injury late in the first half and did not return. Cornerback...
New return man Steven Sims suffers injury pregame, Steelers muff kickoff early
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Perhaps it was a bad sign for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday that the game hadn’t gotten underway yet, and they’d suffered an injury. Newly minted return man Steven Sims suffered an eye injury during warm-ups and was not available to play when the game started....
Gunner Olszewski out, Steven Sims in as returner/WR4 for Steelers in game vs. Bills
What coach Mike Tomin alluded to Tuesday and Steven Sims said would happen Wednesday was made official Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers announced their inactives for the game at the Buffalo Bills: Sims was promoted to the Steelers’ return man role, and Gunner Olszewski was designated an inactive for the...
Steelers 4 Downs: Kenny Pickett holds onto the ball and other data mined from college career
1. Quick-draw Kenny Over the past two years, Ben Roethlisberger had by far the shortest average time of snap-to-throw of any NFL quarterback. Could the Pittsburgh Steelers about to be embarking on a major shift in that area? Judging by the college career of newly named starting quarterback Kenny Pickett,...
Steelers promote OLB Ryan Anderson to active roster, cut David Anenih, call up 2
A day before their game at the Buffalo Bills, the Pittsburgh Steelers shook up the bottom of their active roster by making a handful of moves. Chief among them, outside linebacker Ryan Anderson was added to the 53-man roster. A former second-round pick out of Alabama, Anderson appeared in 52...
With Kenny Pickett taking over, are George Pickens and other Steelers rookies poised to break out?
On the steamy fields of Saint Vincent and throughout preseason games in August, a theme appeared to emerge in evaluating the 2022 Pittsburgh Steelers: by all indications, they had a strong incoming rookie class. During the first month of the regular season, though, plays from Steelers rookies generally were few...
Struggling to produce so far, Steelers WRs know they need to make plays for Kenny Pickett
It might not take a village to foster the development of an NFL rookie quarterback, but his wide receivers corps being productive and making plays certainly would help. This season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wide receivers haven’t produced all that much. With rookie Kenny Pickett making his first NFL start Sunday,...
Steelers enter Sunday’s game relatively healthy; Bills have lengthy injury list
The Pittsburgh Steelers are still without defensive star T.J. Watt. A starting cornerback likewise remains out, and they also might be missing another player or two during Sunday’s game. The Steelers won’t get any sympathy from their opponent, though. The Buffalo Bills listed 17 players on the official league-mandated injury...
Terrell Edmunds’ status in doubt but rest of Steelers secondary on track to play vs. Bills
The Pittsburgh Steelers began the week with virtually their entire secondary on the injury report. Fortunately for them, the week ended with more answers than questions in that regard. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerback Levi Wallace were deemed cleared to play in Sunday’s game at the Buffalo Bills, via the...
Kenny Pickett quickly shows more tendency to run than Steelers QB predecessors
It’s a small sample size, to be sure. But newly minted Pittsburgh Steelers No. 1 quarterback Kenny Pickett quickly showed he is more likely to run, and the Steelers’ offensive braintrust also showed it is more likely to ask Pickett to run than it did Pickett’s predecessors. In one half...
Matt Canada will ‘tweak’ Steelers offense with Kenny Pickett, but no major changes
Seemingly everybody associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers wants to know if the change in quarterback will mean a change in offensive scheme for Kenny Pickett’s first start. The man who’d be in charge of such a shift said there’s no reason to wait for Sunday’s game at the Buffalo Bills...
