Joe Rutter stories, Page 33
Points still scarce, but offense gains more than 400 yards as Steelers hold off Bengals
CINCINNATI — Never has an offensive performance that produced one touchdown looked so promising for the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first game without Matt Canada serving as offensive coordinator, the Steelers surpassed 400 yards for the first time in their past 59 tries while beating the Cincinnati Bengals, 16-10, on...
5 questions Steelers can address following change in offensive coordinators
The person designing the plays has changed in the wake of Matt Canada’s firing as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator. So has the person who will wear the headset and communicate with quarterback Kenny Pickett on game days. As far as the actual plays that will be used when the Steelers...
Promotion to interim offensive coordinator a bittersweet moment for Steelers’ Eddie Faulkner
Eddie Faulkner realizes the opportunity afforded to him. At 46, he has a chance over the final seven games of the season to state a case to be an NFL offensive coordinator, either full-time with the Pittsburgh Steelers or with another team depending on what transpires in these next two...
Kenny Pickett hated to see Matt Canada lose job, but quickly shifts focus to next Steelers challenge
Quarterback Kenny Pickett hasn’t had much time to digest the change in Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinators, the shift from Matt Canada to the Eddie Faulkner-Sullivan duo. The rhythm of the NFL schedule hasn’t permitted it. On Wednesday, a day after Steelers coach Mike Tomlin fired Canada following 44 games as...
5 outside candidates the Steelers could consider as next offensive coordinator
If history is any indication, the Pittsburgh Steelers will promote from within when they hire a permanent offensive coordinator in the offseason. Until then, the interim duo of Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan will have seven games with which to prove their candidacy. Faulkner has the official title of offensive...
Eddie Faulkner, Mike Sullivan to share responsibilities after Steelers fire OC Matt Canada
The fallout from Mike Tomlin’s dismissal of Matt Canada as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator means added responsibilities for two assistants on staff. Tomlin on Tuesday announced running backs coach Eddie Faulkner as offensive coordinator but named quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan as the play-caller on game days. In essence, they will...
After firing Matt Canada, Mike Tomlin only focused on short-term results with QB Kenny Pickett
Mike Tomlin changed his offensive coordinator Tuesday. He has no plans to also make a switch at quarterback. Despite Kenny Pickett coming off one of his worst games statistically in his two-year career, he will remain the Steelers starter, Tomlin said at his weekly news conference. Asked why he remains...
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin takes questions about firing Matt CanadaVideo
Mike Tomlin was expected to talk with reporters Wednesday about the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming game at Cincinnati. However, his announcement Tuesday morning on “X” that Matt Canada had been relieved of his duties as offensive coordinator altered those plans. Statement from Coach Mike Tomlin: pic.twitter.com/kitcpLnyqF— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 21,...
Steelers fire offensive coordinator Matt Canada
Through two-and-a-half years of watching his offense plod along like it was mired in quicksand, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin remained steadfast that Matt Canada was the right fit at offensive coordinator. On Tuesday, two days after the Steelers produced just 10 points in a loss to a division rival,...
5 thing we learned: Steelers’ playoff odds don’t take a dent despite loss to Browns
Five things we learned from Browns 13, Steelers 10: 1. Win for losing Despite losing for the first time in three games, the Steelers had their chance of reaching the postseason increase to 70%, according to the New York Times playoff simulator. The simulator gives the Steelers a 14% chance...
Diontae Johnson admits frustration, won’t discuss sideline dispute with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin
The disconnect between quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receiver Diontae Johnson was on display multiple times in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 13-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Pickett would throw deep for Johnson, only to have the veteran pass catcher pull up short as the ball sailed by. Or...
Deja vu as Browns’ Myles Garrett ends up with Steelers QB’s helmet in his handsVideo
Myles Garrett had his hands on a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback’s helmet again Sunday afternoon. This time, he politely gave it back rather than take a swing with it. In a moment that conjured visions of Garrett’s infamous helmet swing that conked Mason Rudolph in 2019, the Cleveland Browns defensive lineman...
Steelers give up winning drive to Browns rookie QB
CLEVELAND — What the Cleveland Browns did on their final drive Sunday was what the Pittsburgh Steelers intended when they also had the ball inside the two-minute warning. Dustin Hopkins’ 34-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining might have sent the Steelers to a 13-10 defeat at Cleveland Browns Stadium,...
Steelers look to pressure Browns rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson into mistakes
Facing No. 2 overall draft pick C.J. Stroud, the Pittsburgh Steelers played one of their worst games in the fourth week of the season and lost 30-6 to the Houston Texans. Stroud surpassed 300 yards passing and threw three touchdowns as the Texans piled up the most yardage of any...
Add defensive tackle Keeanu Benton to list of rookies making impact for Steelers
When talking publicly about his young Pittsburgh Steelers players, particularly rookies, coach Mike Tomlin isn’t prone to hyperbole. He would rather root for the New England Patriots than offer effusive praise. So when Tomlin gushed this week about the play of rookie defensive tackle Keeanu Benton in the Steelers’ 23-19...
Steelers passing game looking for boost with potential return of TE Pat Freiermuth
Contrary to what the statistics suggest, the tight end remains a viable part of the Pittsburgh Steelers passing game. It just hasn’t looked that way without Pat Freiermuth in the lineup. With Freiermuth potentially returning from injured reserve Sunday in Cleveland, the Steelers will have all of their offensive playmaking...
After injuries at inside linebacker, Steelers will ‘lean on’ veteran Elandon Roberts
Elandon Roberts was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency because of his proficiency at stopping the run. After significant injuries to Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander in back-to-back games, the Steelers will see how capable Roberts is at defending the pass when given a full week of preparation....
Wins are great, but Mike Tomlin would like to see more from Steelers QB Kenny Pickett
Mike Tomlin is looking to see more progress from quarterback Kenny Pickett in the second half of the season. Pickett hasn’t thrown an interception in his past five starts, but he also has tossed just two touchdown passes in that span. He also ranks near the bottom of the NFL...
Steelers going to look within for replacements for injured linebackers Cole Holcomb, Kwon AlexanderVideo
The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to stay in-house while finding replacements for injured inside linebacker Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander, coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. Holcomb was placed on injured reserve last week with a knee injury that will keep him out for the rest of...
Down 2 starting inside linebackers, Steelers could turn to veteran Mykal Walker
Since being signed to the practice squad two weeks ago, linebacker Mykal Walker has been trying grasp the Pittsburgh Steelers playbook. Whether he’s ready or not, his knowledge of the scheme could be tested in a game setting. Walker is a candidate to be signed to the 53-man roster in...
With 6-3 record, Steelers brace for back-to-back trips against AFC North opponents
After concluding a three-game home stretch Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers began looking ahead to a tour of Ohio that awaits at a crucial juncture of their schedule. “AFC North football, here we come,” defensive captain Cameron Heyward said after the Steelers’ 23-19 victory against the Green Bay Packers. The Steelers...
Defense, ground game help Steelers fend off Packers, improve to 6-3
Mike Tomlin didn’t audibly exhale when he sat down for his postgame news conference Sunday afternoon. Nobody would have blamed him if he had. “All right,” Tomlin said, easing into his seat, “that was easy.” Tomlin flashed a knowing smile, realizing nothing has been that way for the Pittsburgh Steelers...
Rookie Joey Porter Jr. proving to be a quick study as shutdown corner for Steelers
Watching the way Joey Porter Jr. shadowed Tennessee Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins last Thursday night brought back fond memories for veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson. A dozen years earlier, he was in the same position, a highly touted rookie cornerback assigned to cover an experienced wide receiver. Peterson remembers his assignment...
Encouraged by debut calling plays from sideline, Steelers OC Matt Canada ready for encore
When Matt Canada worked from the sideline Thursday night as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator, he wasn’t totally unfamiliar with the experience at Acrisure Stadium. In 2020, his first year with the organization, he spent every game on the sideline as the Steelers quarterbacks coach. And he worked from the sideline...
Steelers WR George Pickens denies being frustrated with reduced targets
George Pickens was in a state of denial Wednesday afternoon. He denied being upset with the dwindling number of targets he has received the past two games. He denied briefly removing references to the Pittsburgh Steelers from his Instagram page because of any dissatisfaction with his employer. He also denied...
