Steelers vs Titans inactives: CB Joe Haden active vs Tennessee

Here are this week’s inactives for Steelers vs Titans.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers got some good news on Sunday when the team released its inactives and cornerback Joe Haden wasn’t listed. Haden had missed the last four games with a foot injury but will be available today against the Tennessee Titans.

Here are the rest of the Steelers inactives including defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs:

DT Isaiah Buggs

TE Kevin Rader

LB Buddy Johnson

RB Anthony McFarland

QB Dwayne Haskins

Here are the Titans inactives:

CB Janoris Jenkins

LB Joe Jones

LB David Long

OL Daniel Munyer

G Rodger Saffold

DL Larrell Murchison

DT Teair Tart

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Before the Patriots, Titans HC Mike Vrabel learned about pro football from the Steelers

On Sunday, Mike Vrabel returns his first #NFL home of Pittsburgh for the first time since becoming HC of the @Titans in 2018. #HereWeGo

On Sunday, Mike Vrabel returns to his first NFL home of Pittsburgh for the first time since becoming head coach of the Tennessee Titans in 2018.

The Akron, Ohio-born Vrabel, who played linebacker for 14 seasons, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1997 NFL draft.

But with guys named Jason Gildon, Earl Holmes, Levon Kirkland, Greg Lloyd and later Joey Porter, opportunities to start are nil. And that was the case for Vrabel.

In four seasons with Pittsburgh, Vrabel never had a start. In 51 appearances, he contributed seven sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered and 56 tackles (four for loss) per Pro Football Reference.

After Pittsburgh, Vrabel went on to have a successful eight-year career with the New England Patriots. In 2005, he racked up a career-high 108 tackles and a career-high 12.5 sacks earned him a Pro Bowl nod. He helped the Patriots to three Super Bowls in seven seasons.

“You start your career there with an unbelievable organization,” Vrabel told TribLive’s Tim Benz of playing with the Steelers. “I learned a lot about pro football and what it should be from the people there.”

“It starts at the top with the Rooney family, and everybody involved, all the way down to the coaches,” Vrabel said. “John Mitchell was my first professional position coach and ‘Mitch’ is still with the team. Jim Haslett was my defensive coordinator and is on our staff now. Just the type of people that have been there. Coach (Bill) Cowher, the entire Rooney family.

I know a lot of people have come and gone, but the one constant that remains is the Rooney family, and Mike (Tomlin) has done an unbelievable job to represent them on and off the field.”

Vrabel is 0-1 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers as Titans head coach. Last year, in the Week 7 game that was postponed from Week 4 after a COVID-19 outbreak in Tennessee, the Steelers squeaked out a win by a score of 27-24.

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Steelers vs Titans: 5 guys who need to step up this week

The Steelers need every man ready to contribute this week.

Time is running out for the Pittsburgh Steelers on the 2021 season. This week Pittsburgh is going to try to sneak past the Tennessee Titans but the Titans have their eye on a top seed in the AFC and won’t go down without a fight.

The Steelers are going to need a monumental effort from the roster to win this game including these five under-the-radar guys who need to step up.

Steelers vs Titans: Tennessee plays Renegade during warmups

Are the Titans trying to steal the magic of Renegade?

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When it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers, there is no song more iconic than Renegade. It has been adopted as the team’s rallying cry since playing it during a playoff game against the Cleveland Browns back in 2002. A game the Steelers won before heading to Tennesee in next week and suffering a loss.

This is somewhat ironic when you consider the Titans are coming to Pittsburgh this week and are already playing Renegade at their practice. The song is the same but not quite the impact when you don’t have 60,000+ rabid Steelers fans singing it at the same time.

The Steelers currently sit at 6-7-1 and a loss this week to the AFC South-leading Titans could mean the end of their playoff dreams. Pittsburgh is going to need all the magical powers of Renegade to keep their season alive.

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Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger says ‘I’m living right here, right now’

Ben Roethlisberger is not thinking about next season.

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If Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is thinking about retiring, he’s not saying. Roethlisberger spoke to the media on Wednesday and made sure everyone understands his focus is on this season.

Roethlisberger says the team needs to make a run and playing good enough football to do that starts with him. Big Ben is working hard to maintain his focus on this season because according to him, that’s the only way a playoff push can happen. This week the Steelers welcome the Tennessee Titans to Pittsburgh with the team’s playoff hopes hanging by a thread.

On the season, Roethlisberger has 3,066 passing yards with 19 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. Roethlisberger is completing 65.3 percent of his passes and has a 92.1 quarterback rating. This team has plenty of problems right now but Roethlisberger isn’t one of them.

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Steelers practice squad: Pittsburgh protects Karl Joseph, 3 others for Week 15

The Steelers protected four players, including Karl Joseph, for their Week 15 showdown with the Titans.

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 15 versus the Tennessee Titans: