Chris Adamski stories, Page 91
Diontae Johnson sees ‘a lot’ of upside in Mason Rudolph as next Steelers QB
Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers season is over, a long offseason of debate is sure to ensue regarding the identity of their next franchise quarterback. The player who arguably has the most at stake in that decision let it known whom he supports. “I’m pulling for (Mason Rudolph),” Diontae Johnson...
Steelers’ Cameron Heyward emotional about playing season without ‘brothers’ Stephon Tuitt, Tyson Alualu
Getting choked up and emotional Sunday night wasn’t only about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ season coming to an end for Cameron Heyward. It went beyond feelings associated with Ben Roethlisberger’s purported final game, too. Speaking soon after the Steelers’ 42-21 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC wild-card game,...
JuJu Smith-Schuster has 5 catches in return, says ‘it would be a blessing’ to remain with Steelers
JuJu Smith-Schuster fought his way back to play one more game this season. Was it also one final time he wore the black-and-gold? Smith-Schuster’s surprise return to game action three months after shoulder surgery ended with a team-high-tying five receptions in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 42-21 loss to the Kansas City...
Steelers notes: Dan Moore Jr. returns to lineup, JuJu Smith-Schuster also starts
One Pittsburgh rookie offensive lineman — at least for the time being — lost his starting job late in the season after an injury. Another, apparently, did not. Dan Moore Jr. was back at left tackle when Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs began. A fourth-round...
Staying grounded until earning role, Ahkello Witherspoon now blossoming with Steelers
In an era of athletes quitting teams and forcing trades, it would not have been unexpected to hear Ahkello Witherspoon was irked about what happened over his first 12 weeks with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But leave it to the veteran cornerback to apply some much-needed, heartening perspective. “Man, I had...
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin chose Pressley Harvin over Corliss Waitman because of holding skills
Rare does a punters’ debate stoke the fires of a team’s football fans, but in Pittsburgh some were irked by a recent choice. The Pittsburgh Steelers elected to go back to Pressley Havin III to handle the punting duties during Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs....
Steelers face long odds, but unlikely champions have been crowned before
The Pittsburgh Steelers enter tonight’s AFC wild-card game against the Kansas City Chiefs facing the longest odds, not only of any team in the NFL playoffs this season, but of any team ever at this point of the postseason. They are 13½-point underdogs against the two-time defending AFC champion Chiefs...
Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster, Najee Harris to play, Pressley Harvin the punter vs. Chiefs
The Pittsburgh Steelers made it official Saturday that two of their highest-profile players will be available for Sunday’s postseason opener. Running back Najee Harris was upgraded to assured to play from a questionable designation given to him during Friday’s league-mandated injury report. Less than two hours later Saturday afternoon, wide...
Four Downs: If Steelers must win special teams to beat Chiefs, it won’t be easy
1. Something special As a double-digit underdog, conventional wisdom suggests one of the best routes for a Pittsburgh Steelers upset of the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game is via an advantage on special teams. Judging by the caliber of the Chiefs’ special-teams unit, though, don’t bet...
Steelers mum on if JuJu Smith-Schuster will play vs. Chiefs, but his presence brings ‘energy’
A little more than 24 hours in advance of a 4 p.m. Saturday deadline for activating JuJu Smith-Schuster to the roster in time for a playoff game Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers teammates were eager to let it be known they were unwilling to unveil any inside information about if Smith-Schuster could...
Steelers hold rare Heinz Field practice in prep for Chiefs
Who said Heinz Field had seen the last of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2021 season? Two-and-a-half weeks after the Steelers’ regular-season home finale and longer than that since it’d been determined they had no chance of hosting a playoff game, the Steelers were back at their home stadium Friday....
Starting OL Dan Moore Jr., Trai Turner, DB Arthur Maulet will play for Steelers vs. Chiefs
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a relatively clean bill of health headed into the postseason. Outside of a questionable designation given to running back Najee Harris, all other players on the 53-man roster were deemed as able to play on the injury report Friday. Of those who had missed practice time...
Best path for Steelers against Chiefs runs through Najee Harris
Though it made him sore for a couple days, the platelet-rich plasma shot Najee Harris received helped heal his injured right elbow. Can it also play a role in injecting some life into the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense? The Steelers have a formidable opponent for Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game in...
Steelers’ T.J. Watt unanimously selected AP All Pro, Cam Heyward also on 1st team
For the second time in three seasons, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive teammates T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward were named first-team AP All-Pro. Watt, the Steelers’ outside linebacker who tied the NFL season record for sacks with 22½, was a unanimous choice of 50 media members who regularly cover the league. The...
Concern ‘high’ about Najee Harris’ availability after he again misses Steelers practice
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris missed practice for a second consecutive day Thursday because of an elbow injury suffered during last week’s game. Coach Mike Tomlin, though, said Harris is “scheduled to” practice Friday, the final session before Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game at the Kansas City Chiefs. “I...
WRs return: JuJu Smith-Schuster practices, James Washington off covid list for Steelers
The two most veteran and tenured members of the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers corps returned to practice. Just as the Steelers began their workout Thursday afternoon, they announced JuJu Smith-Schuster had been cleared to practice for the first time since he suffered a shoulder injury early during an Oct. 10...
Najee Harris does not practice, Dan Moore Jr. does for Steelers
As coach Mike Tomlin had indicated the day prior, running back Najee Harris sat out Pittsburgh Steelers practice on Wednesday. Harris was limited during this past Sunday’s game in Baltimore because of an elbow injury. He played, though, during the fourth quarter and overtime, an indication that he can be...
Steelers notes: Chase Claypool ends regular season on high note
BALTIMORE – Since his best game of the season Oct. 10 against the Denver Broncos, Chase Claypool hadn’t scored for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since his regrettable premature first-down celebration Dec. 9 in Minnesota, he barely made much of an impact. In Sunday’s must-win regular-season finale, though, Claypool was an offensive...
Steelers ‘hungrier than ever’ after securing postseason trip to Kansas City
BALTIMORE — Cameron Heyward paused and darted his eyes up to the ceiling in contemplation. The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive captain couldn’t recall with precision the date of their most recent game against the Kansas City Chiefs. “Was that three weeks ago or two weeks ago,” Heyward asked Sunday evening, “when...
Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt ties NFL record with 2nd quarter sack vs. Ravens
BALTIMORE — T.J. Watt tied the NFL record for most sacks in a season with a second-quarter takedown of Tyler Huntley during Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers game at the Baltimore Ravens. The sack gave Watt 22½, tying him with Michael Strahan’s 2001 total while he was playing for the New York...
Starting LT Dan Moore not active, but P Pressley Harvin playing for Steelers vs. Ravens
BALTIMORE – For the first time this season, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a different starting left tackle in the regular-season finale. Rookie Dan Moore Jr. was among the listed inactives for Sunday’s game at the Baltimore Ravens. A fourth-round pick, Moore started each of the season’s first 16 games. But...
Covid prevents defensive coordinator Keith Butler from Steelers for game vs. Ravens
BALTIMORE — The Pittsburgh Steelers will play their regular-season finale without their defensive coordinator. Keith Butler will not be coaching during Sunday’s game at the Baltimore Ravens, a team spokesman said via a post on his verified Twitter account Saturday evening. Butler went into NFL covid-19 protocol Wednesday. The Steelers...
Steelers Four Downs: Throwing short on fourth-and-long
1. Third and wrong A familiar refrain from exasperated Pittsburgh Steelers fans this season has been frustration with short throws on third-and-long. While many times such grievances perhaps aren’t as stark or happen as often as is popularly perceived, in this instance the numbers prove it a valid complaint. According...
‘He played like a Raven’: Ex-Ravens pay tribute to retiring Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
It wasn’t the first time someone associated with the Baltimore Ravens or Pittsburgh Steelers used the word “hate” in regard to part of the teams’ rivalry. But in this case, it was one of utmost respect. The Ravens’ official website compiled comments from past and present members of the organization...
Steelers LT Dan Moore Jr. doubtful, but RG Trai Turner to play Sunday vs. Ravens
Coming off what was arguably its best game of the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive line likely will be without its left tackle Sunday. Rookie Dan Moore Jr. was designated as doubtful on the injury report after not practicing all week because of an ankle injury suffered during Monday’s win...
