Pittsburgh Steelers Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Steelers Place Marcus Gilbert On IR

December 15th, 2018 at 3:06pm CST by Sam Robinson

The corresponding move from Pittsburgh’s Eli Rogers activation will be key. Marcus Gilbert‘s season will come to a close.

The eighth-year right tackle will head to the Steelers’ IR list, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette tweets. Gilbert has been dealing with a knee injury and has not played since October.

Matt Feiler has filled in for Gilbert, and while the former UDFA has not been quite on the level of Gilbert at full strength, the replacement has played well. Pro Football Focus has graded Feiler as its No. 39 overall tackle this season.

Unavailability has been an issue for Gilbert in recent years. Injury and suspension trouble limited him to seven games last season, and Pittsburgh saw his 2017 replacement, Chris Hubbard, defect to Cleveland in free agency. Gilbert returned to his right-edge post this year but only got in five games before the knee problem sidelined him in mid-October.

While the 30-year-old blocker is under contract for the 2019 season, his issues staying on the field may put the Steelers to a decision this offseason.

The team could save nearly $5MM by releasing Gilbert, the Steelers’ starting right tackle since his 2011 rookie season. That said, the top-tier right tackle is only in line to count $6.6MM toward the Steelers’ cap. The Steelers are also projected to hold $28MM-plus in cap space, potentially allowing them to keep Gilbert on the books and see if he can re-establish his previous form. But after the troubles the former second-round pick has experienced the past two years, that won’t be a lock.

Steelers To Activate WR Eli Rogers

December 15th, 2018 at 2:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers may not have their starting running back on Sunday, but they will likely be equipped with improved wide receiver depth.

Eli Rogers is in line to make his 2018 debut after the Steelers activated him Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Rogers tore his ACL in last season’s divisional round and has resided on the reserve/PUP list all season. He returned to practice in late November.

Pittsburgh’s primary slot receiver in 2016, Rogers was not used as frequently last year. The addition of JuJu Smith-Schuster and the return of Martavis Bryant relegated Rogers to part-time cog, and he recorded 18 receptions for 149 yards. In ’16, the former UDFA caught 48 passes for 594 yards and three TDs.

Rogers’ role probably will not be extensive this season, either. Ryan Switzer and second-round rookie James Washington have functioned as Pittsburgh’s auxiliary wideouts. Neither, though, has been as productive as Rogers was two years ago. The Steelers non-tendered Rogers as an RFA in March, and the wideout rehabbed on his own. He visited the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns but wound up re-signing with the Steelers over the summer.

Up by merely a half-game in the AFC North after a three-game losing streak, and likely to be without top running back James Conner against the Patriots, the Steelers can use all the help they can get in a big game Sunday. Following their Patriots clash, the Steelers have to travel to New Orleans, amplifying the stakes for their home game against the Pats.

James Conner Unlikely To Face Patriots

December 15th, 2018 at 1:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers have a recent history of being shorthanded at key offensive spots when they face the Patriots, and it appears Sunday will continue that trend.

James Conner‘s ankle injury is likely to keep him out of Sunday’s game against New England, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). While Conner is expected to return for Week 16 against the Saints, the Steelers will have to go with Jaylen Samuels and Stevan Ridley for a second straight game.

Injured during the Steelers’ Week 13 loss to the Chargers, Conner had not made the same kind of impact in November that he did during the first half of the season. Le’Veon Bell‘s replacement was held under 100 yards from scrimmage from Weeks 10-13, this coming after he’d exceeded that barrier in Pittsburgh’s previous four games (all wins). Nevertheless, Pittsburgh is now down to what would have been its third-string running back if Bell had played this season.

The Steelers last season lost Antonio Brown during the first half of their close loss to the Patriots — one that determined the AFC’s No. 1 seed. In the 2016 AFC championship game, Bell left in the first quarter and did not return in a blowout defeat. Ben Roethlisberger did not play in a regular-season loss to the Patriots in Pittsburgh that year, and the Steelers lost to the Pats in Week 1 of the 2015 season during a Bell suspension. The Steelers have not beaten the Patriots since 2011.

Neither the Steelers nor the Patriots are playing on the level they did last season, however, lowering the stakes for this year’s matchup. But while New England remains in command of the AFC East, Pittsburgh may be one loss away from ceding AFC North control to Baltimore. A Ravens win (over the Buccaneers) and a Steelers loss would catapult Baltimore into first place in the division and thrust Pittsburgh into a muddied wild-card mix.

A possible Pro Bowler, Conner has accumulated 1,376 yards from scrimmage and scored 13 touchdowns in his first season as the Steelers’ starter. Samuels and Ridley combined for 32 rushing yards on 16 carries in the loss to the Raiders.

Steelers To Stick With Chris Boswell

December 13th, 2018 at 3:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers won’t be getting rid of Chris Boswell after all. The club worked out kickers after Boswell’s rough showing against the Raiders, but they have decided against making a chance at this time, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.

On Wednesday, the Steelers brought in Kai Forbath and Matt McCrane for a competition on the practice field alongside Boswell. Forbath apparently had a strong workout and was kept in Pittsburgh overnight after his audition. But, on Thursday, Boswell responded with a strong practice, and the Steelers decided to ride it out with the fourth-year pro.

To help Boswell get back on the right track, the Steelers have brought in old friend Shaun Suisham to work with him, according to Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette (on Twitter). Boswell has been undeniably bad this season, but there’s reason to believe in his leg after he sank 92.1% of his field goal tries in 2017 and earned his first ever Pro Bowl nod.

Of course, Boswell’s contract is also a factor here. In the offseason, the Steelers inked Boswell to a new four-year, $19.2MM extension and cutting him would result in upwards of $6MM in dead money.

Boswell and the Steelers will look to snap a three-game losing streak on Sunday when they face the Patriots.

Steelers Still Considering Kai Forbath

December 12th, 2018 at 9:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Free agent kicker Kai Forbath was impressive during his Wednesday workout with the Steelers, and Pittsburgh is “keeping him on hold” while they determine a course of action with incumbent Chris Boswell, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Boswell’s fate with the Steelers could well rest on his performance during Thursday’s practice, per Fowler. Boswell missed two field goals against the Raiders on Sunday, including one that would have tied the game as regulation expired. All told this year, Boswell has missed six field goal attempts (leaving with him a conversion percentage that ranks last in the NFL) and five extra points. According to Football Outsiders’ special teams metrics, the Steelers’ kicking game is the second-worst in the league.

Steelers To Work Out Kickers

December 12th, 2018 at 12:02pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers are giving serious thought to moving on from kicker Chris Boswell. On Wednesday, the club flew in free agent kickers Kai Forbath and Matt McCrane to compete with the incumbent kicker, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter).

Days after Boswell missed two field goals, including a game tying try, against the Raiders, head coach Mike Tomlin admitted that he would consider alternatives. He also noted the general lack of quality options in the free agent pool and he was therefore undecided on whether to audition other kickers. After some consideration, the Steelers opted to open up a competition.

Boswell’s miss at the end of Sunday’s game can be attributed to the bad turf in Oakland, but the rest of his struggles this year cannot be written off. Of course, this comes just months after the Steelers gave him a four-year, $19.2MM extension with a $6MM roster bonus, which may complicate the final decision.

The division-leading Steelers finish out the year against the Patriots, Saints, and Bengals. Thanks to a three-game losing streak, they lead the Ravens by just 0.5 games for the AFC North crown.

Steelers May Move On From Chris Boswell

December 11th, 2018 at 11:42am CST by Zachary Links

After Chris Boswell‘s slip cost them a chance to beat the Raiders on Sunday, the Steelers are considering a change at kicker. At his weekly news conference on Tuesday, head coach Mike Tomlin admitted that the team will “explore” alternatives.

“We acknowledge that Chris has struggled. He has struggled to find consistent footing,” Tomlin said (via WTAE). “We are willing to explore options that give us the best chances of the ball going through the uprights this week. That being said, those options include Chris.”

Boswell’s botched attempt to tie the game can be blamed on the poor turf at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, but he also missed a 39-yard kick in the first half and got lucky on an extra point try that went through after hitting the upright. All in all, he’s made just 10 of 16 field goal tries this year and has missed five extra points. It’s a far cry from his work last year – Boswell sank 35 of 38 field goal attempts in 2017 and made 37 of his 39 XPs.

It remains to be seen when or if the Steelers will audition other kickers. Their frustration with Boswell is understandable, but there aren’t a ton of quality kickers available at this stage of the season.

“At this time of the year, we are cognizant of what’s available, and we realize it’s prudent to include Chris in those options,” Tomlin said. “His performance merits us turning stones over and looking at options.”

The Steelers dropped to 7-5-1 and extended their losing streak to three games with Sunday’s heartbreaking loss. With three games to go, they’ll fight to stave off the Ravens for the AFC North title.

Roethlisberger Injury Not Serious

December 9th, 2018 at 10:03pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Ben Roethlisberger missed most of the second half in the Steelers‘ loss to the Raiders with a rib injury, but is expected to be fine and play next week against the Patriots, Schefter writes in a separate tweet. Joshua Dobbs filled in for Roethlisberger today, and Big Ben’s absence ended up costing the team the game as they scored zero points with Dobbs under center. The Steelers are just 7-6-1 and in danger of falling out of the playoffs with a very tough upcoming schedule, so they’ll need Roethlisberger at full strength.

James Conner To Return In Week 15?

December 9th, 2018 at 9:33am CST by Rory Parks

2018 revelation James Conner had his magical season sidetracked when he suffered an injury — which some sources believe is a high ankle sprain — during the Steelers’ loss to the Chargers last Sunday. However, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes that Conner “has a chance” to be back in action for Pittsburgh’s potentially critical matchup with the Patriots next week.

The Steelers are only 1/2 game up on the Ravens in the AFC North, but Baltimore will face a stiff test against the Chiefs in Kansas City this afternoon while Pittsburgh gets a favorable matchup in Oakland. But even if the Steelers can put some distance between themselves and Baltimore today, they still need to deal with New England and New Orleans, so they would love to get Conner back for the stretch run.

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports also hears that Conner could be back next week, though Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network is a little less optimistic (video link). Rapoport says that Conner will be reevaluated tomorrow and that the Steelers are expected to be cautious with him. As such, Conner could miss the team’s Week 15 bout against the Pats. Speculatively, if the Steelers win today and the Ravens lose, Pittsburgh may be more inclined to hold Conner out for another week.

Jaylen Samuels, whom the Steelers selected in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, is expected to get the bulk of the touches in Conner’s absence. Luckily for Pittsburgh, Samuels, like Conner, is a talented receiver out of the backfield, so the Steelers should not have to alter their offensive approach to accommodate him.