Chris Adamski stories, Page 98
Penguins notes: Kasperi Kapanen demoted to 4th line, Brian Dumoulin practices on off side
Kasperi Kapanen took rushes on a fourth line during Pittsburgh Penguins practice Monday, and afterward coach Mike Sullivan’s assessment of Kapanen’s game this season was “inconsistent.” A former first-round pick of the Penguins who was traded, in part, for Phil Kessel and re-acquired, in part, for a first-round pick last...
Prospect P.O Joseph back in NHL, still very much in Penguins’ plans
His status as a significant part of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ future dates to the day he was acquired more than 28 months ago, which perhaps makes it seem to some as if P.O Joseph is aging out of “prospect” status. But Joseph is still an always-smiling 22-year-old, and he still...
Penguins’ Kris Letang returns to ice; Chad Ruhwedel, Marcus Pettersson covid confirmed
Kris Letang returned to the ice Monday after clearing NHL covid-19 protocols, but two other Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman were confirmed positive for the virus. Letang had served his 10 days of isolation after a positive test and was cleared by medical personnel after a screening for cardiomyopathy, coach Mike Sullivan...
Tough decisions pay off for Steelers after Chris Boswell’s injury
CLEVELAND — A 255-pound rookie punter… lining up to kick a game-winning field goal? Complete with a Hall of Fame quarterback performing the hold? If things had played out just a little bit differently, could that have been the dramatic ending of Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Cleveland Browns game? “We’ll never know,”...
Rookies on offense leave fingerprints all over Steelers’ win at Browns
CLEVELAND — Each of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ touchdowns during Sunday’s 15-10 win at the Browns was scored by a rookie. Each was made possible by two other members of the Steelers’ draft class. The careers of the Steelers’ 2021 rookie class are just beginning, but already the group is making...
Steelers notes: Defense does its job vs. Browns’ vaunted rushing attack
CLEVELAND – After Sunday’s 15-10 win against the Browns, Cameron Heyward was big on PG-13 language. Wearing a black-and-gold T-shirt that read “Get the (heck) to work,” the Pittsburgh Steelers veteran defensive lineman used a similar tone in describing how the defense contained the Browns’ vaunted rushing attack. “Stay in...
Zach Banner again not in uniform for Steelers in game vs. Browns
CLEVELAND — Zach Banner has been medically cleared to play, but the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t quite ready to use him during games. For the second consecutive game after his activation off the injured reserve list, Banner was designated as a gameday inactive for Sunday’s game at the Cleveland Browns. Banner’s...
With Melvin Ingram out, Steelers call up former 1st-round pick Taco Charlton
It’s Taco time for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. With Melvin Ingram III ruled out from playing in Sunday’s game in Cleveland because of a groin injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers called up former NFL first-round pick Taco Charlton to serve as their primary backup at outside linebacker against the Browns. A...
Steelers Four Downs: On the shotgun, short yardage, deep passes and Watt Bros.
1. Shot and chaser There was chatter over the offseason after the promotion of Matt Canada to offensive coordinator that the Pittsburgh Steelers would go under center more often. That hasn’t played out. Ben Roethlisberger is in the shotgun as much as ever. According to data from footballoutsiders.com, the Steelers’...
Against Browns, Steelers’ T.J. Watt gets to show off oft-overlooked run-stop ability
T.J. Watt’s bona fides as an elite pass rusher need no explanation. Watt has 11 sacks in his past 19 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and, barring injury, he’s well on his way in joining Reggie White as the only players in NFL history to have four consecutive 13-sack seasons....
Najee Harris comfortable stretching workload for Steelers
The NFL’s official draft profile of Najee Harris featured legitimate concern about Harris’ durability because of the workload he undertakes and the punishment his body therefore endures. As the touches pile up during a rookie season for the Pittsburgh Steelers, though, Harris doesn’t share those worries. “Am I concerned? No,”...
Injured Steelers TE Eric Ebron will not play vs. Browns
Eric Ebron began the week insisting he is content with his increasingly diminished role in the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. He ended it injured significantly enough that he won’t play in the Steelers’ next game. Ebron did not practice Friday and will not play Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers...
Amid reports he’s unhappy, Melvin Ingram misses Steelers practice – but because of injury
About as far as Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin would go in acknowledging veteran Melvin Ingram III is unhappy with his role on the team is to say he has spoken with him. Tomlin also insists Ingram’s absence from Friday’s practice is not related to reports he seeks a trade....
With Anthony McFarland, Zach Banner off IR, Steelers’ Matt Canada weighs their usage
Zach Banner and Anthony McFarland each figure to be part of the gameday roster this week for the first time this season. But what will their roles be within the Pittsburgh Steelers offense during Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns? Offensive coordinator Matt Canada shed little light on the coaching...
Melvin Ingram, Eric Ebron limited at Steelers practice
Amid reports he is unhappy with his role on the team, outside linebacker Melvin Ingram was a limited participant at Pittsburgh Steelers practice Thursday. Ingram was listed on the injury report with a groin injury for the second consecutive day. Ingram was not cited by coach Mike Tomlin as dealing...
Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger preps for perhaps final game at his home-state Browns
Ben Roethlisberger grew up a 2-hour, 15-minute drive from Cleveland. His first start there was as a 22-year-old in 2004, seven months after the Browns bypassed him in the draft to select a tight end. Sunday — perhaps — could be Roethlisberger’s final start at his home-state team that became...
Melvin Ingram limited at Steelers practice with groin injury
Coach Mike Tomlin said the Pittsburgh Steelers emerged from their idle week with a healthy roster. Wednesday’s practice proved it. The official league-mandated injury report was about as clean as it has been all season. It included two players recently activated off of the injured reserve list — running back...
Steelers receiver Chase Claypool embraces running routes out of varying spots
Chase Claypool didn’t explicitly take over JuJu Smith-Schuster’s role during Smith-Schuster’s first game following season-ending surgery, and Claypool likely won’t ever be a full-time slot receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But that doesn’t mean Claypool doesn’t like getting deployed there. “I like playing all positions but especially being able to...
Steelers activate RB Anthony McFarland off IR, place DT Carlos Davis on IR
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have another piece available to their offense beginning this week after the activation of speedy running back Anthony McFarland on Wednesday. McFarland was on the injured reserve list since the start of the season because of a torn MCL suffered during training camp. He was cleared...
Poor playoff behind him, Tristan Jarry focuses on improvement for Penguins
Over his past 21 regular-season games, Tristan Jarry has been on quite a run. Not that he’s aware of it. “No idea,” the Pittsburgh Penguins goalie said after practice Monday. “Sorry.” Fitting, because fans seemingly aren’t aware of Jarry’s stretch of elite regular-season play, either. Or, perhaps more to the...
Mark Friedman hones mental aspect of game, evolving into contributor for Penguins
By the view of both he and his coach, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Mark Friedman is at his best when he plays with “an edge.” However that’s defined precisely, don’t take it to mean Friedman necessarily is playing angry or recklessly. Instead, Friedman is attributing the strides he’s making in his...
Penguins’ Kris Letang covid positive, Sidney Crosby practices fully, Bryan Rust progresses
The updates regarding the playing status of many of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ highest-profile players were coming fast and furious Monday. And the news was mixed. Defenseman Kris Letang, it was confirmed, tested covid-19 positive. He enters NHL coronavirus protocol and will miss a second game when the Penguins host the...
Tre Norwood already making an impact, has look of rare Steelers’ 7th-round find
For every Brett Keisel, there has been an Antonio Dingle and a LaVar Glover. For every Kelvin Beachum or Carlos Emmons, there were seemingly three Angel Rubios. An examination of Pittsburgh Steelers seventh-round picks over the past three decades reveals an unkind history of unearthing hidden gems. For the first...
Built using time, money and draft capital, Steelers’ tight end corps gains prominence
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s season-ending injury has provoked plenty of talk about which wide receiver would step up his role in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. But what if the vacuum created by Smith-Schuster’s shoulder surgery wasn’t filled by wide receivers at all? “I wouldn’t be opposed,” Zach Gentry said with a mixture...
Steelers explain using Robert Spillane over Devin Bush, Joe Schobert in dime defense
Two-and-a-half years after trading up to draft Devin Bush at No. 10 overall, and two months after trading for Joe Schobert and his pricey contract, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been electing to take both of their starting inside linebackers off the field in obvious passing situations in recent weeks. Coach...
