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Pittsburgh Steelers News & Rumors

Steelers Place OT Troy Fautanu On IR

September 21st, 2024 at 6:35pm CST by Ben Levine

6:35pm: Fautanu maywell end up missing much more than a month. Dulac reports the injury is set to sideline him for most, if not all, of the season’s remainder. Fautanu had red flags coming into the draft for medical reasons, and his rookie campaign appears to already be over due to his latest ailment.

4:20pm: The Steelers have officially moved Fautanu to injured reserve, ensuring that he will miss at least the next four games because of his knee injury, per Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. Jones will be ready to take over the starting role versus the Chargers tomorrow.

In addition to Fautanu’s placement on IR, the team is also promoting offensive lineman John Leglue and cornerback James Pierre from the practice squad. As standard gameday practice squad elevations, Leglue and Pierre will revert back to the practice squad after tomorrow’s game.

9:02am: The Steelers will be without their starting right tackle for the foreseeable future. Rookie Troy Fautanu injured his knee during yesterday’s practice and is sidelined indefinitely, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The lineman is set to undergo further testing, and Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the rookie definitely won’t be playing in Week 3. Offensive tackle Broderick Jones told reporters yesterday that his teammate suffered “a little tweak” to his knee (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor).

The Steelers selected Fautanu with the 20th-overall pick in this past year’s draft. The rookie was sidelined with an MCL injury during the preseason, and he didn’t end up seeing the field for the team’s season-opener. With Jones struggling at RT, coach Mike Tomlin said the team would likely rotate tackles during Week 2.

While Fautanu garnered the start, Tomlin did initially stick to his rotational plan. However, as Pryor points out, Jones proceeded to commit three penalties in a six-play span, leading to the rookie playing out the contest. Fautanu finished the game getting into 55 offensive snaps, with the lineman earning praise from Pro Football Focus for his pass-blocking prowess.

With Fautanu now sidelined, the Steelers will likely turn back to Jones. Outside of LT Dan Moore Jr., the team’s only other healthy offensive tackle is practice squad rookie Doug Nester. For what it’s worth, Jones recognized his struggles through the first two weeks, and Tomlin believes the former first-round pick is prime for a rebound.

“He’s a talented young player,” Tomlin said (via Pryor). “I’m sure he suffered some disappointment in terms of Troy starting. It’s a natural thing, but he’s got to move past it. I got to give him an opportunity to move past it as a leader.”

The Steelers’ offensive line has already been wrecked by injuries. Center Nate Herbig is likely out for the year while recovering from a torn rotator cuff, and guard Isaac Seumalo hasn’t played this season while dealing with a pectoral injury.

Latest On Steelers’ QB Situation

September 19th, 2024 at 9:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers are 2-0 with Justin Fields at the helm of their offense, and he is likely to make a third straight start on Sunday. Russell Wilson is still not practicing in full, but when he is healthy his place on the depth chart will be worth watching closely.

Wilson continues to rehab the calf injury which cost him time during training camp and which he reaggravated shortly before the start of the season. Head coach Mike Tomlin has stated Wilson remains the team’s starter (the role he officially earned after the preseason) once he returns to full health, although strong showings from Fields could sway the team’s opinion on that front. Tomlin does not have a true decision to make until both passers are healthy, but Wilson is making progress.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Seahawks Super Bowl winner will likely receive a chance as the team’s starter once he has recovered. Wilson’s command of the offense, Fowler notes, remains an area where he is deemed to have an advantage over Fields. That is one factor which led to Wilson remaining in pole position for the QB1 spot throughout the offseason, in addition to his experience and lack of turnover issues relative to Fields. The latter has done well in that regard so far, though, and he will aim to deliver another clean performance on Sunday.

Pittsburgh ranks just 26th in scoring at the moment and 29th in passing yardage. The team has scored only one offensive touchdown through two weeks, and improved efficiency (at least, to a degree) will be needed over the course of the campaign. Fields was viewed by many as the signal-caller with the most upside in the Steelers’ QB room, and an update on this situation from before their Week 2 win suggested Tomlin could stick with the former Bears draftee even when Wilson is back to 100%.

“I’m definitely gaining ground,” Wilson – who practiced on a limited basis Thursday – said, via Fowler’s colleague Brooke Pryor. “I feel good. I was able to do a lot more work today, yesterday, so we’re getting better every day.”

Both Wilson and Fields are pending free agents, so their respective financial futures depend on how the 2024 season shakes out. Wilson could very well still see the field at some point, especially if Tomlin holds firm on the team’s pecking order at the position. As the Kenny Pickett–Mason Rudolph situation demonstrated last year, though, changes to the depth chart can be made based on unexpected performances. When (or if) Wilson gets back in the fold will be an interesting storyline to follow.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/18/24

September 18th, 2024 at 8:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: DT Dashaun Mallory

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed: LB David Anenih

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/24

September 17th, 2024 at 7:42pm CST by Ely Allen

Tuesday’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed: T Marcellus Johnson
  • Released: T Ricky Lee

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Commanders

Woods joins the Falcons’ practice squad after a workout last week that also included veterans Kwon Alexander and Rashaan Evans.

The Browns are adding Freeman after the seven-year veteran was released by the Cowboys before the regular season. Freeman could potentially pitch in as the team keeps working without Nick Chubb.

Yeast becomes the next former-Rams defensive back to join the Panthers. Current Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero used to serve as the secondary coach in Los Angeles, and Yeast joins Jordan Fuller, Nick Scott, and Troy Hill as former students of Evero to sign a deal with the Panthers.

Chosen’s time off the Dolphins’ practice squad could be a short one. Chosen was called up as a standard gameday elevation twice in the first two weeks of the season, reaching his limit for the year. If the team re-signs him to a new practice squad contract, his count should start over.

Reagor saw 11 games and a start last year for New England, catching seven passes for 138 yards as a deep threat. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like the Patriots will be giving him similar opportunities this year after this release.

Pierre played a big part in the Steelers’ secondary in 2021 and 2022, starting six games and logging an interception in each season. His role was extremely reduced last year with the arrivals of Joey Porter Jr.. and Patrick Peterson, but his experience could be crucial in a position room that only rosters five cornerbacks as Cameron Sutton remains on suspension.

AFC North Notes: Fields, Steelers, Wilson, Taylor-Britt, Bengals, Browns, Ravens

September 17th, 2024 at 5:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another Justin Fields start is likely on tap for the Steelers, who are 2-0 with the fourth-year passer at the controls. Russell Wilson is not scheduled to log a full practice Wednesday, and Mike Tomlin said (via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor) the team is “readying a plan that features Justin.”

The Steelers have not exactly been prolific on offense with Fields, scoring all of 31 points in two games. But the trade acquisition — who entered the offseason as the clear backup — has gained enough ground on Wilson it is believed to have put the starting job in question. The 25-year-old passer has completed 69.8% of his passes, albeit at just 6.3 yards per attempt, but has managed two pilot Pittsburgh to two wins despite questions about the team’s pass-catching group after the much-discussed Brandon Aiyuk trade fell through.

Fields helping the Steelers to a win over the Broncos boosted his case, and Wilson may be running out of time due to a calf issue sidelining him — save for some preseason time — since the start of training camp. A report before that Denver matchup suggested Wilson would not lose the job he won due to injury, but it may well be up in the air now.

Here is the latest from the AFC North:

  • Stepping into the No. 1 cornerback role to start his third season, Cam Taylor-Britt pulled down a spectacular one-handed interception of Patrick Mahomes in the Bengals‘ Week 2 loss. With the Bengals expecting a big year from Taylor-Britt, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. notes this would put the former second-round pick on the extension radar come 2025 (subscription required). Taylor-Britt will be eligible for a second contract next year, and while the Bengals are poised for a second round of Ja’Marr Chase negotiations in 2025, a quality Taylor-Britt showing this year would leave them an easier extension to complete.
  • Attempting to move from a decorated wrestling career to the Bills, Gable Steveson did not turn that bid into a spot on Buffalo’s active roster or practice squad. The former Olympic gold medalist is not shutting down football aspirations, with NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo noting he worked out for the Ravens this week. The 24-year-old wrestling convert competed as a defensive lineman in Buffalo, with Bills preseason games doubling as Steveson’s first football games at any level.
  • The Browns and Bears completed a trade for defensive tackle Chris Williams just before the season. The pick-swap deal involved the Bears sending the Browns a 2025 sixth-round pick (originally from the Vikings) for Williams and a conditional 2025 seventh-rounder, Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer notes. The sixth that went to Cleveland was originally a Miami selection.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/17/24

September 17th, 2024 at 5:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Denver Broncos

Pittsburgh Steelers

A transaction mainstay since being included in the 2017 trade that brought Ronald Darby to Philadelphia from Buffalo, Matthews has since moved to tight end and been with the Panthers since 2023. Matthews later made it back to Philly and has been with five NFL teams since being a 2014 second-round pick. He started one game for the TE-depleted Panthers this season. Franks is a converted quarterback who has played in Carolina’s first two games as a gameday elevation. A 2023 Panthers UDFA, Leota logged a 2024 start and recorded a sack. But the second-year player is now on the wire.

AFC Contract Details: Brown, Ramsey, Heyward, Carter, Bell

September 15th, 2024 at 9:50pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some details on recent contracts reached around the NFL:

  • Spencer Brown, T (Bills): Four years, $72MM. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 provided some contract details on Brown’s recent extension. The deal comes with a $6.4MM signing bonus and a $16MM option bonus that will pay out in 2025. An additional $7.1MM roster bonus will hit in 2026. The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia added the distinction that most of Brown’s $7.14MM base salary in 2026 will be vested in 2025.
  • Jalen Ramsey, CB (Dolphins): Three years, $72.3MM. Per OvertheCap.com, Ramsey’s new extension comes with $24.24MM guaranteed at signing. The deal also contains a guaranteed 2025 roster bonus of $4MM paid in March and a guaranteed 2025 option bonus of $18.98MM due in Week 1 of next year. He can receive option bonuses of $8.14MM and $8.84MM in 2026 and 2027, respectively, and roster bonuses of $2MM from 2026 to 2028.
  • Cameron Heyward, DT (Steelers): Two years, $29MM. While we had mentioned that most of Heyward’s guarantees came in the form of his signing bonus, OvertheCap.com shows us that the remaining guaranteed money comes from Heyward’s 2024 base salary of $1.3MM. Heyward can earn roster bonuses of $13.45MM in 2025 and $12.95MM in 2026.
  • Michael Carter II, CB (Jets): Three years, $30.75MM. ESPN’s Rich Cimini tells us that Carter’s deal comes with a $6MM signing bonus that is included in the contract’s $13MM of guaranteed money at signing. There’s an additional $5.4MM guaranteed for injury. The deal also contains a guaranteed 2025 option bonus of $4MM.
  • David Bell, WR (Browns): Two years, $2.44MM. Wilson tells us that Bell’s contract has base salaries of $1.11MM and $1.34MM. Bell can earn an additional $50K in a workout bonus in 2025.

Justin Fields Could Remain Steelers’ QB1 Regardless Of Russell Wilson’s Health?

September 15th, 2024 at 10:43am CST by Rory Parks

Earlier this week, we heard that the Steelers were likely to start Justin Fields at quarterback in today’s Week 2 matchup against the Broncos as Russell Wilson continues to work his way back from a calf ailment. We also heard that Wilson, who was named the starting QB at the end of August before aggravating the calf injury, was likely to reclaim the QB1 post when healthy enough to do so.

This morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirmed that Fields would get the nod today. However, Rapoport also added that if the former first-round pick of the Bears leads Pittsburgh to a victory, head coach Mike Tomlin may opt to keep the younger passer at the top of the depth chart, regardless of Wilson’s health status.

In Rapoport’s estimation, such a decision would not amount to a Wilson benching per se, but rather a case of riding the hot hand (although Wilson might not see it that way). In the Steelers’ Week 1 victory over the Falcons, Fields did not lead the team to a touchdown, but six field goals and a strong defensive performance were enough to carry the day.

Fields was highly efficient in the Atlanta contest, though he was also quite conservative, completing 17 of 23 passes for 156 yards. He also showed off his running ability, adding 57 yards on the ground on 14 carries.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith praised Fields’ measured approach. Smith said of Fields, “he was very disciplined. He wasn’t greedy. When the shots were there, we took advantage of them.”

Fields’ prowess as a runner has never been in doubt. Instead, the fact that he never blossomed into a high-end passer is what ultimately led to his trade out of Chicago this offseason, with the Bears taking advantage of the No. 1 overall pick in April’s draft to nab blue chip prospect Caleb Williams. Wilson, on the other hand, has a long history of being a highly-effective passer, even if his last two seasons as a member of the Broncos did not live up to expectations.

As Rapoport observes, Tomlin continued to deploy Mason Rudolph under center in 2023 even after Kenny Pickett was cleared to play, showing that the league’s longest-tenured head coach is not afraid to deviate from his original plans if the situation calls for it. Should Fields deliver another “game manager” performance in Week 2, even if that performance results in a win, Tomlin may still prefer to see what Wilson can do. But if Fields should shine, then the decision could be more complicated.

Steelers Promote WR Ben Skowronek

September 14th, 2024 at 9:19am CST by Ben Levine

Ben Skowronek has once again earned a promotion to the Steelers active roster. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers have called up the wideout from the practice squad.

The former seventh-round pick was traded to the Texans this past offseason but was among Houston’s final cuts. He subsequently landed on Pittsburgh’s practice squad and earned a promotion for Week 1, with all 11 of his snaps coming on special teams.

Skowronek showed some flashes during his time with the Rams, including a 2022 campaign where he hauled in 39 receptions for 376 yards. Third-round rookie Roman Wilson was limited at practice this week while dealing with an ankle injury, so Skowronek provides Pittsburgh with some reinforcement on the depth chart.

Speaking of injuries, quarterback Russell Wilson has officially been listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. The veteran reportedly made the trip to Colorado with the intent to play his former team (per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). Of course, Wilson also traveled to Atlanta for Week 1 before eventually being listed as out, so we shouldn’t read too much into this decision.

If Wilson can’t go, Justin Fields would earn another start with his new squad. There was uncertainty atop the depth chart heading into the season opener, but Fields had the luxury of taking all of the first-team reps this past week. The speedy QB admitted that the extra practice time should help his performance if he does indeed start tomorrow.

“I guess it helps me a little bit,” said Fields (via the team’s website). “But like I said last week, I come into every week the same with the same approach that I’m going to play. I’d rather be ready and just have that mindset.

“So, I guess it helps a little bit. But it’s really the same process for me.”

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/24

September 13th, 2024 at 7:33pm CST by Ely Allen

Some practice squad transactions to close out the week:

Houston Texans

  • Released from practice squad IR (with injury settlement): T Cameron Erving

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Released from practice squad IR (with injury settlement): RB Boston Scott

Seattle Seahawks

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