Category: 2021 Week 11 Steelers vs. Chargers

Steelers Wire podcast: Talking ties, COVID and the upcoming matchup with the Chargers

On this week’s podcast we talk about the tie and look ahead to how the Steelers can compete with the Chargers.

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Welcome back to the latest episode of the Steelers Wire Podcast.

This week’s episode is once again hosted by Ryan O’Leary (@RyanOLearySMG on Twitter) and I’ll join him each week to break down the latest Steelers news.

Everything from the latest info on the team to fantasy football advice will be covered, along with some opinions on the betting lines, all with a focus on the Steelers.

This week, Ryan and I break down what happened in last week’s crazy game with the Detroit Lions and why a tie feels like a loss. Then we dig into all the injuries and COVID-19 problems facing the Steelers this week as the team prepares to focus on beating the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Steelers QB Mason Rudolph putting team first w/quarterback decision

Mason Rudolph wants to start but he understands it’s about the team.

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This week the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football. We may not know until that day if Ben Roethlisberger is cleared to play. If he is, head coach Mike Tomlin has hinted he will start despite no practice all week which would relegate Mason Rudolph back to his role as a backup.

But Rudolph doesn’t seem to be overly concerned about that. When he spoke to the media on Thursday, Rudolph said he has no inside information about where Roethlisberger is in the process or if he will play. But he understands how important this week’s game is and if he gets the hook at the 11th hour, so be it.

“At the end of the freaking day what matters is the team and going out and winning the game,” Rudolph said.

You know Rudolph will be disappointed if the team contacts him on Saturday night and tells him he’s getting yanked. But you have to appreciate that he’s willing to put the team first. Rudolph got the start last week against the Detroit Lions and threw for 242 yards on 30-for-50 passing with a touchdown and an interception. Rudolph also rushed for 36 yards.

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Steelers asking a ton of backup linebackers vs Chargers

Where will the Steelers pass rush come from this weekend?

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Listening to Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler, it really doesn’t sound like star linebacker T.J. Watt will play this week against the Los Angeles Chargers. Watt injured his knee and hip in Sunday’s tie with the Detroit Lions.

At the same time, I didn’t get an overwhelming feeling of confidence from Butler about the prospects who will be playing in Watt’s place either.

“Whether they’re ready or not, they’re going to have to,” Watt said. “We can’t wait on them. They have to come out& know what we ask them to do.”

The Steelers have Derrek Tuszka and Taco Charlton as the only viable options to start opposite Alex Highsmith and this isn’t ideal. Pittsburgh traded away Melvin Ingram just before the trade deadline leaving a void at the position. This will be a huge test not only for the players but Butler as well to see if he can find a way to scheme the defense to get press on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert.

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Steelers vs Chargers: Will T.J. Watt play this week?

The Steelers could use T.J. Watt this week.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long list of players who might not be able to go this week. But there might be none more important than linebacker T.J. Watt. Watt injured his hip and knee in last week’s tie with the Detroit Lions and did not do any team work on Wednesday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin noted in his Tuesday press conference that the team would “leave the light on” for Watt to play Sunday night. We understand Watt, much like quarterback Ben Roethlisberger can go out and play with little to no practice time without much worry.

But the question remains if Watt will be on the field on Sunday night?

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Cast your vote and tell us if you expect Watt to play.

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Steelers practice squad: Pittsburgh protects former Karl Joseph, 3 others for Week 11

The NFL carried over some successful rules from the 2020 season, including practice squad protections. Teams can protect up to four of the most valued players on their practice squad each week, preventing them from being signed by other teams. Teams …

The NFL carried over some successful rules from the 2020 season, including practice squad protections. Teams can protect up to four of the most valued players on their practice squad each week, preventing them from being signed by other teams.

Teams that play on Sundays can designate protected players each Tuesday at 4 p.m. Teams that play on Mondays designate players each Wednesday. Protected players are not eligible to sign with another team until after that week’s game.

Here are the four players the Pittsburgh Steelers protected on their practice squad for Week 11 versus the Los Angeles Chargers:

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin calls replacing Minkah Fitzpatrick a ‘multi-person discussion’

It takes a village to replace a player like Minkah Fitzpatrick.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are prepping for Sunday’s game with the understanding they aren’t going to have star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on the field. Pittsburgh placed Fitzpatrick on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday and it is a longshot he would be cleared in time to play.

Head coach Mike Tomlin discussed the task of trying to replace a player like Fitzpatrick in the lineup and conceded it isn’t a one-man job. Tomlin noted that veteran Miles Killebrew and rookie Tre Norwood would be in line to work together to fill the role Fitzpatrick plays on this defense.

Norwood has been pretty darn spectacular this season in limited action. His reputation in college was as a playmaker and he has lived up to it so far in the NFL. The decision of who plays where could come down to not only the status of Fitzpatrick but the health of cornerback Joe Haden. Haden suffered a foot injury in last week’s game.

A wildcard in all this is Karl Joseph. A former first-round pick sitting on the Steelers practice squad, this could be a big week for him if he gets elevated to the 53-man roster.

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3 things Minkah Fitzpatrick on the COVID list means for the Steelers

The Steelers could have a new starting free safety this week.

Just two days after finding out quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had tested positive for COVID-19, the Pittsburgh Steelers got even more bad news. Now starting safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has tested positive as well. Here are three things this news could mean for the Steelers this week.