Category: 2022 Week 10 Steelers vs. Saints

Steelers activate LB T.J. Watt to 53-man roster vs Saints

T.J. Watt will play versus the Saints on Sunday.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

After a two-month absence, the Pittsburgh Steelers will once again have the services of outside linebacker T.J. Watt. Watt missed the last seven games with a torn pectoral but the team announced on Saturday that Watt had been activated and will play.

The Steelers defense has been in a downward spiral without Watt in the lineup. Watt’s impact on the pass rush as well as the run defense is impossible to undervalue and everyone has watched this defense limp along without No. 90 in the lineup.

I wouldn’t look for Watt to have a heavy workload on Sunday simply due to conditioning. Watt probably wants to never leave the field but the coaches will dictate participation.

[listicle id=522882]

Steelers place new CB William Jackson III on IR

The debut of new cornerback William Jackson has been delayed.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

It isn’t ideal when the brand-new cornerback your team just traded for heads to IR but this is where the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves. The team announced on Saturday that cornerback William Jackson III was headed to the Reserve/Injured list with a back injury. In a corresponding move, the Steelers elevated safety Elijah Riley tot he active roster.

This means Jackson will miss at minimum four games and would only be eligible for the team’s final five games of the season at the most. This is far from ideal, especially with Ahkello Witherspoon still trying to work through a hamstring injury. In addition, Pittsburgh has ruled out starting free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick due to appendicitis.

[listicle id=522882]

Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick OUT vs Saints

The Steelers will be minus Minkah Fitzpatrick versus the Saints.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

On Saturday the Pittsburgh Steelers announced safety Minkah Fitzpatrick would be out versus the New Orleans Saints on Sunday due to appendicitis.

Pittsburgh got injured safety Damontae Kazee back from IR this week so he along with second-year safety Tre Norwood will work together to replace Fitzpatrick in the starting lineup next to Terrell Edmunds.

Fitzpatrick has been having a huge season with three interceptions in seven games and one defensive touchdown. It isn’t clear how much time Fitzpatrick will miss but this will be his second missed start of the year.

[listicle id=522882]

Steelers remain 2-point home underdogs to Saints

Pittsburgh remains a home underdog this week.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The opening line for the Pittsburgh Steelers versus the New Orleans Saints was 3.5 points with the Steelers as home underdogs. Now, just a day away from kickoff, the line is still leaning to New Orleans but the folks at Tipico Sportsbook have narrowed the line to just two.

Pittsburgh’s defense got a big boost this week which could have contributed to the change. Not only was hard-hitting safety Damontae Kazee activated to the roster, but star outside linebacker T.J. Watt also is back from his torn pectoral and will be back on Sunday as well.

Both of these teams are fighting for respectability at or near the bottom of their divisions. The Steelers are 2-6 and coming off of the bye week and the Saints are 3-6 coming into the game on a short week.

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).

[listicle id=522882]

Steelers LB T.J. Watt plans to play vs Saints

T.J. Watt sounds like he’s ready to go on Sunday.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

On Friday, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt told reporters he is planning to play versus the New Orleans Saints on Sunday and does not expect to be on a pitch count.

Watt went down with a partially torn pectoral in the first game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. Watt went on IR and missed the next seven games. During Watt’s absence, the Steelers defense completely fell apart and now finds itself among the worst in the NFL in yards and points allowed.

Last season Watt tied the single-season sack record with 22.5 and led the league for the second straight season. This year Watt is just hoping to salvage the Steelers season after his long absence.

[listicle id=522882]

NFL experts split on Steelers vs Saints

The Steelers need to get back on track this week versus New Orleans.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

This week the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints square off in a battle between two teams playing more for respect than anything else. The Steelers are 2-6 and the Saints are 3-6 with both teams searching for some direction as they rebuild.

We assumed the pundits would be somewhat divided on this game and we weren’t wrong. According to our friends over at NFL Pick Watch, 56 percent of experts are taking the Saints and 44 percent are going with the Steelers.

The game is in Pittsburgh but given the struggles the Steelers are having on offense, it’s no surprise the Saints are favored in this game. Pittsburgh should get a nice boost if outside linebacker T.J. Watt is activated and can play but as of Friday morning there’s been no official announcement by the team.

Let us know in the comments who your pick is for this week and what you think the final score will be.

[vertical-gallery id=519883]

[listicle id=522864]

Steelers activate S Damontae Kazee to 53-man roster

Damontae Kazee should be able to play on Sunday.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

On Thursday the Pittsburgh Steelers got some help on defense when the team activated safety Damontae Kazee from the IR to the active roster. Kazee had missed the entire season to this point with a broken arm.

Kazee will give the Steelers another physical presence in the defensive backfield to help shore up a leaky run defense. Kazee made some huge hits in the preseason prior to his injury and will bring that level of energy to a defense that needs it.

Pittsburgh did not activate outside linebacker T.J. Watt yet but hopefully, he is next up before Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

[vertical-gallery id=520500]

[listicle id=522864]

Steelers place K Chris Boswell on IR

Chris Boswell will miss the next four games.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced they were placing kicker Chris Boswell on IR as he continues to work his way back from a groin injury. This means Boswell will miss at least the next four games.

Boswell missed the team’s Week Eight game against the Eagles with the same injury. Nick Sciba filled in for Boswell and hit both of his field goal tries as well as one extra point. Nevertheless, the Steelers released Sciba and added Matthew Wright from the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad to replace him. Wright will be the Steelers kicker for the next four games minimum.

For the season, Boswell is 12-of-16 on his field goal attempts and is a perfect 9-for-9 on extra points in seven games.

[vertical-gallery id=520500]

[listicle id=522864]

Steelers RB Jaylen Warren says no bump in practice reps

Jaylen Warren says his practice schedule hasn’t changed.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbydbzmnr1bhxef player_id=none image=https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

The Pittsburgh Steelers currently rank No. 27 in the NFL in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and yards per carry. This is a continuing trend going back to 2019. The fix feels like it’s a matter of making Jaylen Warren the lead running back and letting Najee Harris fill in behind him. A complete reversal of roles.

But Warren spoke to the media on Thursday and noted that he has seen no increase in reps this week as the Steelers prepare to take on the New Orleans Saints. Harris is the team’s first-round pick from 2021 but after a 1,200-yard rookie campaign, he’s been stuck in neutral for much of this season.

The area where the Steelers need the most help is explosive plays. To offer a bit of perspective, Warren has 13 carries of 10 yards or more on the season and Harris has 12. But it took Harris 132 carries to get them and Warren did it in only 41.

Let us know in the comments if you think Warren sees more touches this week despite no change in practice reps.

[vertical-gallery id=520500]

[listicle id=522805]