Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are the inactive players for the Pittsburgh Steelers-Green Bay Packers Week 10 matchup.
Being minus safety Minkah Fitzpatrick aside, which is huge enough, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ inactives aren’t too doom and gloom this week against the Green Bay Packers. The team is still without tight end Pat Freiermuth who remains on IR, but could be back for Week 10’s showdown with the Browns.
T.J. Watt has no love for the Green Bay Packers team his family grew up rooting for.
Wisconsin is known for something else besides cheese, Miller beer and cold-ass winters — the Green Bay Packers. And T.J. Watt was born in the middle of it all.
Born and raised in Pewaukee, WI, two hours south of Green Bay, Watt couldn’t help but be surrounded by the Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers-led Packers teams. But he plays it as casual.
“I did, for… I mean, my grandpa was a huge Packer fan,” Watt said. “My parents were huge Packer fans. I was more of just kind of watch from afar. One of my buddies had season tickets, so I’ve been a couple times.”
All of that changed, though, once older brother J.J. Watt burst onto the NFL scene in 2011. Five years younger than J.J., Watt was 17 when his brother entered the league. “Once J.J. got to the NFL, it was pretty much all Texans for the most part.”
Watt brushed off any fandom he once had for the Pack, as whatever time he’d spent following the team is in the past — especially as his Steelers host them at Acrisure Stadium today.
“It’s so far in my career,” he said about whether their Packers opponent holds any special meaning. “I’ve already played in Green Bay — that was a special one. But at this point, it’s just another opponent and another tough one at that.”
Watt had a pretty nice game in said contest of Week 4, 2021, with two sacks of Aaron Rodgers, four tackles, two quarterback hits and a fumble recovery.
Jordan Love best beware.
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Oh, Bryant McFadden. We appreciate your optimism, but the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t surpassed 400 yards of total offense since… checks notes… 2020.
Oh, Bryant McFadden. We appreciate your optimism, but the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t surpassed 400 yards of total offense in the regular season since… checks notes… 2020. Yes, it was the crazy COVID year when the Steelers went 11-0 before falling off a cliff to finish the season at 12-4.
In the predictions segment of the Nov. 5 episode of All Things Covered, the ex-Steelers cornerback said Pittsburgh would win 21-13 while surpassing 400 yards in total offense.
It’s been over three years since those kinds of offensive numbers were produced — Matt Canada was just a lowly quarterbacks coach.
In Week 2 of 2020, the Steelers hung 410 yards on the Denver Broncos via two great performances in the air and on the ground. Ben Roethlisberger threw for 311 yards (ah, those were the days) to Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, with a few others chipping in. On the ground, James Conner had 106 yards and a score.
The closest Pittsburgh’s come to that figure since was, interestingly, versus Denver. This time, it was Week 5, 2021. Roethlisberger had a 253-yard day, 130 of them and a touchdown to Claypool. He threw his second to Johnson who added 72 yards. Again, the ground game came up huge with Najee Harris grinding out 122 yards and a touchdown.
Can they do it now versus a beat-up Packers defense? Maybe. And for two reasons: Two key defenders, linebacker Quay Walker and cornerback Jaire Alexander are doubtful this week.
Walker, Green Bay’s primary run-stuffer, leads the team with 66 tackles. The Steelers appeared to have something promising going with Harris and Jaylen Warren against the Tennessee Titans.
With Alexander likely out, the Packers will have a tough time slowing down Johnson and George Pickens. This could be just the boost that Pickens needs to put up some numbers.
Still, 400 yards is asking a lot from a Pittsburgh Steelers team that’s still searching for its identity.
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The Steelers defense has a two-headed challenge on their hands tomorrow.
Tomorrow, the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ run-strapped defense has a two-headed challenge on their hands: Containing the run stylings of Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
Not unlike themselves, the Green Bay Packers‘ two backs can gash you in different ways. Just ask the Los Angeles Rams, who the Pack ran for 184 yards on in Week 9.
According to NFL.com stats, Pittsburgh’s run defense ranks 23rd. The unit has allowed 133 yards per game through eight games and five touchdowns.
“It’s going to be a challenge going against them,” Alex Highsmith told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “I think the first thing is stopping the run. They have a good two-headed monster in A.J. Dillon and Aaron Jones, we have to stop them, get after them and get after Jordan Love in the passing game.”
“It starts there, stopping the run, not letting them get in rhythm, not letting them get those manageable third downs, keeping them in third and long so we can pin our ears back and get after them.”
They’ll have to do so without the services of Cole Holcomb, who was placed on injured reserve earlier this week. He was a key player in getting after runners with 24 tackles, 16 of which were stops.
“It’s tough,” said Highsmith. “I hate it for him. He loves this game. I know we have capable guys that are going to come in and play. It’s an opportunity for guys like Mark Robinson and others to step up and play.”
Green Bay’s 3-5 record is deceiving, having dropped some very close matchups. Three of their five losses were decided by five points or less.
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Kenny Pickett has been dealing with injured ribs since taking a hard sack versus the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett came back last week just four days after suffering what looked like a serious rib injury and played on Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans. It was a Ben Roethlisberger-esque showing of fortitude but if Pickett wasn’t 100 percent, you couldn’t blame him.
But this week, when the Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers, Pickett said he’s good to go. “I feel good. You know staying with the trainers, doing some extra things to make sure I’ll be 100 percent on Sunday.”
Pickett has had a forgettable season aside from his continued skill in late-game theatrics. Through eight games, Pickett has 1,490 passing yards and the Steelers passing offense is No. 24 in the NFL. Pickett has started every game this season and went 5-3 in eight starts in 2022 as a rookie.
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Steelers defenders Minkah Fitzpatrick and Montravius Adams have been ruled OUT for Packers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without their star safety for the second consecutive week as Minkah Fitzpatrick nurses a hamstring injury. Montravius Adams (ankle) is also ruled out for Sunday’s Green Bay Packers matchup.
Here’s the full rundown, courtesy of Steelers.com.
Sunday is a couple of days out, but right now, Cam Heyward is feeling good about hitting the field.
Sunday is still a couple of days out, but right now, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward says he’s “feeling good” about hitting the field.
Swelling in Heyward’s groin sidelined him for Thursday’s practice (though Dale Lolley surmised it was field conditions), but he did get out there today.
Asked if he was confident about his chances of helping the defense defeat the Green Bay Packers, Heyward said, “I’d say so.”
Heyward underwent groin surgery in September after getting injured in the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He returned a week earlier than initially anticipated and helped bolster a run defense that desperately needed bolstering. He was involved in six tackles, including one for a loss, against Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans.
On “Good Morning Football” the day after the Titans win, Heyward admitted that he played more snaps (46) than expected. “Going into the game, I thought I was going to get 20 to 30 snaps. Didn’t end up that way. It was a little bit closer than expected, so took some more snaps. I’m a little sore today, but it’s only gonna help me with my rehab. It’s gonna continue to make me better, and glad to be back out there with the guys.”
It sounds like the mini-bye week came in handy for Heyward.
We sat down with @CamHeyward after his first @steelers game since Week 1 and broke down some of those big plays pic.twitter.com/fiQa5OR3Bd
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) November 3, 2023
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None of the Steelers from Wednesday’s injury report practiced today.
In what’s hopefully merely a precautionary measure, none of the Pittsburgh Steelers from Wednesday’s injury report practiced on Thursday, including Cam Heyward (groin), who was limited yesterday.
Tomorrow’s injury report will include game status, but it’s tough to imagine seeing Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring) as anything else but out. It’s best to keep him sidelined for one of Pittsburgh’s toughest matchups of the season in the Cleveland Browns next week.
Here’s the rundown, courtesy of Steelers.com.
Minkah Fitzpatrick is still dealing with the hamstring injury suffered versus Jags.
The Pittsburgh Steelers released their first injury report ahead of their Week 10 showdown with the 3-5 Green Bay Packers.
The final report before Sunday’s game goes up on Friday, but here’s where things currently stand.
The Steelers will wear throwback block letter/number uniforms for their showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
The Pittsburgh Steelers social media team posted a cryptic message yesterday that sent Steelers Nation into a frenzy. The post teased a “special announcement” today at 3.
Of course, fans wanted it to be a public firing of Matt Canada. Some surmised it would be something to do with jerseys, be it the return of the Bumblebee or a date specific to donning the Color Rush.
It was indeed the jerseys. The Steelers are wearing throwback block uniforms for their Week 10 showdown with the Green Bay Packers.
Pittsburgh is undefeated in the three times this particular throwback has been worn. In 2018, they defeated the Cleveland Browns 33-18; in 2019, they beat the Los Angeles Rams 17-12. It was last worn in their thriller against the Las Vegas Raiders last Christmas Eve.
T.J. Watt digs the tradition.
“I think it’s really cool,” Watt told Teresa Varley of Steelers.com. “It means a lot that we can wear the jerseys they wore, and being a part of that tradition is awesome.
“Those guys still take a lot of pride in what they did, and we take a lot of pride in being able to carry on that legacy and play for the Steelers. That is what makes this organization so special, the true tradition.”
Very cool. Now go out and make it number four!
The Steelers 3 p.m. announcement:
they're wearing throwback block letter uniforms for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) November 7, 2023
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