Chris Adamski stories, Page 31

CINCINNATI — After playing one offensive snap and being back to return nine opponent kickoffs during the past two games since coming off the injured reserve list, Anthony McFarland was designated as a healthy inactive for Sunday’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals. A fourth-year running back, McFarland was on IR...

Alex Highsmith’s roughing the passer infraction during last week’s game in Cleveland wasn’t the most egregious by any means. But while some Pittsburgh Steelers fans might argue Highsmith did not even deserve a flag for the play, the NFL still hit him with a fine. Highsmith was docked $16,391 by...

1. If not against them… The Pittsburgh Steelers’ new coordinator/playcaller tandem taking over for the fired Matt Canada has been afforded fortuitous scheduling, at least inasmuch as the opponents’ pass defense. Eddie Faulkner handled the game plan, and Mike Sullivan will call the plays for the Steelers’ 1 p.m. game...

George Pickens said he was not aware of Tuesday’s dismissal of Matt Canada until he showed up for work Wednesday. As for new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner and the energy he brings to the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, Pickens probably won’t be asked explicitly to provide his input. He indicated Friday...

Before Sunday, Elandon Roberts had appeared in 116 NFL regular-season games with 84 starts. He has won two Super Bowl rings, been part of three teams and been named a captain of two. But as much of a presence as Roberts has been in the middle of teams’ defenses, Roberts...

It was a surprise earlier this week when George Pickens ended up on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ injury report. By Friday, Pickens was back to fully practicing, and he had an explanation for why he missed some time. “I just got kicked in my shin,” Pickens said. “A little UFC action,...

Wide receiver George Pickens returned to Pittsburgh Steelers practice Thursday, albeit in a limited capacity, a day after he missed a full session because of a shin injury. Pickens has not missed a game over his two-year NFL career and remains on track to play in Sunday’s game at the...

Neither Trenton Thompson nor Mykal Walker was with the Pittsburgh Steelers when training camp began. At this time a week ago, neither was on the active roster. But by this past Sunday in Cleveland, each was playing a major role in the defense during a road game against a division...

Like during nine of the previous 11 Wednesdays before it (not counting their Thursday night game or the bye week), this particular Wednesday featured a full offensive meeting for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This particular one, though, differed from all the others — and not because it was Thanksgiving Eve. New...

To open up a fourth consecutive week of game preparation since suffering a hamstring injury, Minkah Fitzpatrick once again was unable to take part in a Pittsburgh Steelers practice. The All Pro safety sat out Wednesday’s session, according to the league-mandated injury report. Fitzpatrick has not played since an Oct....

For everyone advocating wholesale changes to the Pittsburgh Steelers offense in the wake of the firing of coordinator Matt Canada, running back Jaylen Warren reminds that in some aspects, they don’t want to change anything at all. The rushing offense is on a proverbial heater. The past three games have...

Just like coach Mike Tomlin said they did in the hours after firing offensive coordinator Matt Canada on Tuesday morning, most Pittsburgh Steelers players received the news the same way many fans did. “I found out,” tight end Pat Freiermuth said, “on social media.” Freiermuth, first and foremost, reacted more...

The Pittsburgh Steelers added another veteran option to their depleted inside linebackers group with the signing of Blake Martinez announced Wednesday. Martinez, 29, has appeared in 84 NFL regular-season games with 78 starts since turning pro in 2016. He led the league in tackles for the Green Bay Packers in...

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin initially was noncommittal about if the promotion of Broderick Jones was permanent. A pdf document sent out Tuesday made it official. Not that there was any question Jones would remain the Steelers’ starting right tackle for the remainder of the season. The rookie No. 14...

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a new starter at inside linebacker. Officially. And it’s not their old starter at inside linebacker. Mykal Walker was listed as the first-team left inside linebacker on the team’s depth chart distributed to media in advance of Sunday’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals. Walker joined the...

A franchise that is widely lauded for having three head coaches over the past 54 years, the Pittsburgh Steelers are on their third offensive coordinator over the past 34 months after the Tuesday firing of Matt Canada. Canada’s tenure lasted 44 games. Believe it or not, that’s only the fifth-shortest...

A new (old) face is back in the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room. Myles Jack, a 2022 starter for the team, was signed to the Steelers practice squad Monday. A veteran inside linebacker, Jack provides reinforcement at a position where the Steelers lost two of their three co-starters to season-ending injuries...

“Throw it deep!” It’s a cliched and over-simplified cry from fans and armchair quarterbacks who perpetually tend to believe their team’s QB isn’t “going long” enough and instead is merely “dinking-and-dunking.” But in the case of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Kenny Pickett on Sunday, it was true. The numbers show it,...

When Eric Rowe was one of the most highly rated safeties in advance of the 2015 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers were among his pre-draft visits. “I thought I was going to get drafted here,” Rowe said Monday, 8 1/2 years later. “But I guess Philly drafted me first, and...

CLEVELAND — Najee Harris did not speak with media throughout the practice week. After Sunday’s 13-10 loss at the Cleveland Browns, though, the Pittsburgh Steelers running back didn’t want to stop talking. A frustrated Harris spoke for more than 5 minutes while sitting in the visitor’s locker room at Cleveland...

CLEVELAND — Playing for the first time in seven weeks, Pat Freiermuth played a bit role on offense in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ loss Sunday. The starting tight end, Freiermuth was targeted only once by quarterback Kenny Pickett. It went for 7 yards on a first-and-10 snap early during the fourth...

CLEVELAND — Safety Trenton Thompson and inside linebackers Mykal Walker and Tariq Carpenter spent the week on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad but were in uniform for Sunday’s loss against the Cleveland Browns. The Steelers announced Saturday that Walker was signed to the 53-man roster and that Thompson and Carpenter...

For the first time since the season opener, the Pittsburgh Steelers have their entire offense available. Starting tight end Pat Freiermuth was activated off the injured reserve list Saturday, clearing him to play in Sunday’s AFC North showdown at the Cleveland Browns. Freiermuth had not played since Oct. 1 because...

It would be easy — if a bit snarky — when evaluating this peculiar Pittsburgh Steelers season to take the route of pondering what is akin to a philosophical question. Are these Steelers one of the best bad teams the NFL has ever seen? Or are they one of the...