Steelers injury update: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster at hospital for evaluation

Head coach Mike Tomlin offered a small update on the injuries from today’s game.

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On Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers found a way to beat the Denver Broncos while wading through multiple injuries once again. When head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the injuries after the game, he gave the impression most of them were minor.

Except for one.

Tomlin casually mentions that the shoulder injury suffered by wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was being evaluated at a local hospital. Given how much medical expertise and technology teams have at their disposal at games, feeling the need to send Smith-Schuster onto the hospital is disconcerting.

In Smith-Schuster’s absence, wide receivers Chase Claypool and Dionate Johnson really stepped up. Nevertheless, with James Washington dealing with a groin injury, the last thing Pittsburgh needs is to lose Smith-Schuster for an extended period of time.

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Steelers vs Broncos: 4 takeaways from the big win

The Steelers defense came up big late to hold off the Broncos on Sunday.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers took the last three weeks to heart and came out and looked like a completely different team on Sunday. Pittsburgh came out hot and held off the Denver Broncos to win 27-19.  Here are our big takeaways from the win.

Steelers defense holds off Broncos to snap 3-game losing streak

The Steelers pulled on the upset win over the Broncos on Sunday.

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When the Pittsburgh Steelers needed a play, they called on the defense and they answered. Pittsburgh snapped its three-game losing streak with a 27-19 win over the Denver Broncos.

The Steelers offense continued to improve this week with special credit to the offensive line. Their effort helped lead running back Najee Harris to his first 100-yard game on the ground and helped give quarterback Ben Roethlisberger his best game of the season. Harris finished with 122 yards before succumbing to cramps in the fourth quarter. Roethlisberger threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense the Steelers came out hot. This unit held the Broncos offense to only 107 yards in the first half before letting Denver creep back into the game in the second half. But an interception by cornerback James Pierre on the final play sealed the win for the Steelers.

Pittsburgh now sits at 2-3 with one game to the bye week. The Steelers welcome the Seattle Seahawks to town next week.

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Ben Roethlisberger lacks awareness on lost fumble

When your receivers aren’t open, sometimes, throwing the ball away is the smartest thing to do. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers were driving successfully when Ben Roethlisberger attempted to extend a play instead of throwing the ball away.

Roethlisberger attempted to scramble with a total lack of awareness of the fact linebacker Malik Reed was hot in pursuit. Reed proceeded to strip-sack for a fumble recovered by Denver and returned for 10 yards.

The Steelers defense saved the day and was able to hold the Broncos to three points. But before the fumble — one that could’ve been avoided — Roethlisberger had his offense in a groove. The scoreboard could’ve easily been 14-0 at the end of the drive instead of 10-3.

With the state of the offensive line and virtually every body part of Ben Roethlisberger hurting, I think it’s wise not to try to be a hero. When your receivers aren’t open, sometimes, throwing the ball away is the smartest thing to do.

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Check out Ben Roethlisberger’s prefect TD pass to Diontae Johnson

Check out Ben Roethlisberger’s prefect TD pass to Diontae Johnson

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For the second straight week the Pittsburgh Steelers scored a touchdown on its opening drive. And for the second straight week the touchdown came via a perfect throw from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to wide receiver Diontae Johnson. This time it was a 50-yard catch and run and a perfect throw by Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger and the offense are off to a hot start and this team looks like it took all the criticism from last week to heart.

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Cameron Sutton, James Washington headline Steelers inactives

One starter among the Steelers inactives versus the Broncos.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers announced their inactives for today’s how showdown with the Denver Broncos. The two names of note are starting cornerback Cameron Sutton and reserve wide receiver James Washington. Here is the full list.

QB Dwayne Haskins

WR James Washington

CB Cameron Sutton

CB Ahkello Witherspoon

DT Carlos Davis

LB Buddy Johnson

With Sutton out of the lineup, James Pierre will get the start at outside cornerback. This will also create a rotation at slot cornerback, likely between rookie Tre Norwood and Arthur Maulet. Washington’s absence means Cody White could see additional snaps. Pittsburgh had promoted former first-round pick Karl Joseph and we thought the safety might get the call today. It will be interesting to see how he is used.

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Steelers vs Broncos: What to expect when Pittsburgh is on defense

Steelers vs Broncos: What to expect when Pittsburgh is on defense

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The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has been battered with injuries this season but a largely healthy group last week got pushed around by the Green Bay Packers. This week Pittsburgh returns home to take on the Denver Broncos. Will the defense bounce back? Here’s what we expect to see when the Steelers are on defense.

Steelers vs Broncos: What to expect when Pittsburgh is on offense

Here’s what we expect to see on Sunday against the Broncos defense.

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Last week the Pittsburgh Steelers were a mix of bad and good against the Green Bay Packers. This week the offense has a chance to continue its progress against the Denver Broncos. Here’s what to expect when the Steelers have the football.