Tag: Pittsbugh Steelers

Steelers LB Cole Holcomb on the roster bubble as injury lingers

Cole Holcomb might not make the Steelers final roster.

Last season, before his injury, Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Cole Holcomb was great. In eight games he had 54 total tackles and had a 72.2 run-stopping grade by Pro Football Focus.

Holcomb suffered a serious leg injury that cost him half of the season and now could cost him much more. Holcomb started training camp on the PUP list and with each passing day, it seems less and less likely Holcomb will be ready to go to start the season.

Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac took it a step further. He hypothesized that Holcomb is nowhere near ready to play. Dulac even said that Holcomb might be a candidate for IR or even be waived.

If either happens, it really puts a spotlight on rookie Payton Wilson. The Steelers selected Wilson in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft but he is one of the most athletic and productive defenders from the entire draft class. It would also mean Mark Robinson has a better shot to make the team. With the return of Tyler Matakevich, we assume that meant Robinson was on his way out but if Holcomb is out of the picture, Robinson could stay.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

It’s looking like a long shot that the Steelers will trade for Brandon Aiyuk

Could the Pittsburgh Steelers land wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk in a trade with San Fransisco 49ers?

DJ Chark, Odell Beckham Jr. and soon, Tyler Boyd. Serviceable wide receivers are flying off the free agency board one by one as the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to have one of the NFL’s weakest corps. What does Omar Khan have up his sleeve?

The Steelers GM claims there’s nothing imminent, which, if true, is a serious concern. All we can do is trust that as we speculate until our faces turn blue.

Rumors of a trade with the San Fransisco 49ers for star WR  Brandon Aiyuk have been swirling for what seems like forever. GM John Lynch has stood by his message that there are no plans to get rid of him or Deebo Samuel.

Outside the Steelers brass, no one knows for sure what’s really going on with their wide receiver situation. Odds that once leaned toward Pittsburgh are no longer in favor of the team landing the talented veteran.

BetArizona.com came up with hypothetical odds for where Aiyuk will play next season, and the Steelers were put at a bleak +2000 (4.8%). Aiyuk remaining with San Fransisco takes the lead at -300 (75%).

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

No decision on fifth-year option for Steelers RB Najee Harris

Mike Tomlin is playing it very close to the vest about Najee Harris’ fifth-year option.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a pair of players coming up on a very important deadline. Both quarterback Justin Fields and running back Najee Harris both have a May 2 deadline to see if the Steelers will exercise the fifth-year option on either player.

Head coach Mike Tomlin talked about the Harris contract situation when he spoke to the media at the NFL Annual Meeting in Orlando and he said the team is still sorting out the particulars of whether or not to give Harris the fifth year.

Harris has been the model of consistency during his three seasons. Harris has topped 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first three years and no matter how the rest of the team has played, he gave 100 percent on every single play and has established himself as a leader on the offense.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Who should Bills fans root for during the bye week?

Root for these teams today, #BillsMafia:

Western New York does not have their Buffalo Bills to root for on Sunday. The upcoming Week 13 in the NFL is the worst of them all as far as this season is concerned.

It’s the Bills’ bye week.

But with their team sitting at a 6-6 record, Buffalo still has plenty to root for. This team is going to need other teams around the league to help them out.

In regards to the full slate that’s upcoming–Who exactly can help out the Bills? There is plenty of help that could be found.

Here is a full Week 13 rooting guide for Buffalo during the Bills‘ 2023 bye week:

Pittsburgh Steelers get no help during bye week

The Steelers managed to lose during the bye week.

While the Pittsburgh Steelers are on an early but much-needed bye, they didn’t get any help from their division rivals. All three teams walked away with Ws in Week 6, the most surprising coming from the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland hosted the 5-0 Niners as massive 9.5-point underdogs and handed them their first loss of the season. Out in London, the Ravens defeated the Tennessee Titans, and the Bengals beat the Seattle Seahawks 17-13.

Cincinnati goes into its bye on a two-game win streak, and Joe Burrow is getting healthy.

Here’s what’s on the docket for the AFC North in Week 7:

  • (3-2) Steelers @ (3-3) Rams

  • (3-2) Browns @ (3-3) Colts

  • (5-1) Lions @ (4-2) Ravens

  • Bengals: BYE

The Rams are just as inconsistent as the Steelers, but no team is a pushover for Pittsburgh. At 2,427 miles, Los Angeles is the second-furthest road trip after Seattle (Week 16).

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

WATCH: Connor Heyward gives rookie a huge hit

Connor Heyward laid out a rookie LB in a “Welcome to the league” moment:

Michigan State fans know Connor Heyward all too well, and especially know his physical nature on the playing field. Heyward played as both a running back and tight end during his time in East Lansing, and is now appearing to be carving himself a nice role in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the Steelers first preseason game, Heyward provided a clip worthy moment, drilling Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker SirVocea Dennis, giving him a “Welcome to the league” moment.

You can watch the video here:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.

Who will be the Steelers No. 2 tight end in 2023?

The Steelers have the personnel to run much more 12-personnel.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the best tight end depth chart we’ve seen in a very long time. The combination of Pat Freiermuth, Zach Gentry, Connor Heyward and Darnell Washington gives Pittsburgh a group of tight ends who can do everything from power run block to attack secondaries in the passing game.

It is safe to assume Freiermuth will be the starter and the primary tight end on any and all downs. But who will end up being the No. 2 tight end? Last season it was Zach Gentry but this hold on the position is tenuous at best. Heyward flashed skills but with his lack of size could end up an issue.

Finally we have rookie Darnell Washington. He is an athletic freak and in theory, can do everything Gentry and Heyward can do and more.

Cast your vote and tell us which player ends up the No. 2 tight end behind Freiermuth when it’s all said and done.

[crowdsignal poll=12296489]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Texans interview New Orleans native, former Saints scout Omar Khan

The Houston Texans interviewed Pittsburgh Steelers exec Omar Khan, a former New Orleans Saints personnel scout and Tulane graduate.

[sendtonews_embed video_id=”TDNNJL9F4x-1095323-7498″]

While several members of the New Orleans Saints are getting interviews for new jobs around the league, one of the organization’s former key cogs has earned a big opportunity: Omar Khan, vice president of football and business administration for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Khan interviewed for the Houston Texans’ open general manager position, the team announced Monday evening.

Khan has been with the Steelers since 2001, but before that he spent four years climbing the ladder in New Orleans. He worked as a scouting intern for the Saints out of college (at Tulane University; born and raised in the city, he studied at Rummel High School) until they hired him on a full-time basis in the football operations department.

His responsibilities there were broad, and it helped prepare him for the critical behind-the-scenes role he’s filled in Pittsburgh over the last two decades. His work in personnel evaluation for the Saints has helped him find dozens of big-time contributors for the Steelers over the years.

So it would be very cool to see Khan running his own team. Even as a far-flung branch of the New Orleans tree, it’s good to see him succeed.

[listicle id=42157]