Tag: Robert Spillane

Steelers LB Robert Spillane eligible to play Week 17 vs. Cleveland Browns

2020-specific rules, prompted by the COVID pandemic, allows players to return from injured reserve after three weeks.

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost more than the game Week 13 versus the Washington Football Team. In the unfortunate domino effect of injuries to their linebacker unit, the Steelers moved Robert Spillane to injured reserve on Dec. 12 after he succumbed to a knee injury.

Spillane came into the lineup to fill the void left by Devin Bush and barely missed a beat. He logged 45 tackles (39 solo), three quarterback hits, and a fumble recovery. The third-year linebacker also picked off Baltimore Raven’s quarterback Lamar Jackson in their Week 8 tilt and took it 33 yards for a score.

In the offseason, the NFL created 2020-specific rules prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among them was a change to injured reserve. From ESPN’s Dan Graziano:

A player going on injured reserve is allowed to return after missing only three weeks, and teams may return an unlimited number of players from injured reserve throughout the year. Once a team activates a player from injured reserve, it has 21 days to return him to the active roster.

Three weeks makes Spillane eligible to return to the Steelers in Week 17. Of course, whether Spillane plays in Cleveland or even in the postseason depends on the severity and recovery progress of his knee injury. Hopefully, there will be some good news leading up to the Browns game, but I’d rather see him rest up for the playoff run.

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What are the Steelers getting in LB Avery Williamson?

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says making the trade for Williamson was the ‘prudent thing to do.’

News broke during Sunday Night Football that the Steelers were indeed making an in-season trade after all.

Depth was uncomfortably thin at inside linebacker after Pittsburgh lost Devin Bush for the year. While Robert Spillane been playing lights-out, the Steelers needed to solidify their linebacker corps.

They did so by bringing in veteran Avery Williamson via a trade with the New York Jets. Pittsburgh sent their fifth-round 2022 pick in exchange for the linebacker and New York’s 2022 seventh round.

Selected in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, Williamson signed with the Jets in free agency in 2018. He enjoyed a team-high 120 tackles that season but tore his ACL during the preseason last year and underwent season-ending surgery.

Williamson, 28, has appeared in seven games (six starts) this year and recorded 59 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception.

Being signed by the Steelers reunites him with outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who was his teammate at Kentucky. Williamson recorded 296 tackles (10 for loss), four sacks and two interceptions with the Wildcats.

“At the early stages of his career, he played in Tennessee in a system of defense that was very similar to ours, not only in terms of how it was constructed but also the language itself,” Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in his weekly press conference. “He’s a guy who fortifies depth in an area in which we’ve been challenged recently.”

“So at the trade deadline, we thought it was necessary, if we had an opportunity, to get a known commodity, one like Avery Williamson who we were somewhat familiar with and who was somewhat familiar with our schematics, and put him into the fold.

“With as much ball as we have that lies ahead, it was a prudent thing to do, and we’re excited about having him.”

In his seven-year career, Williamson has 546 tackles (26 for loss) and 14.5 sacks. He also has four interceptions, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 17 pass defenses.

Ulysees Gilbert, who everyone was hoping would contribute this season, has not been able to stay healthy. He injured his back in college and it’s been an on-and-off issue ever since. On Wednesday, Gilbert was placed on injured reserve for the second time in as many seasons.

Expect the division of labor to be between Spillane, Williamson and safety-turned-linebacker Marcus Allen.

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Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger on win versus rival Ravens: ‘It’s not always pretty’

Steelers vs. Ravens football is the best of the best, and this game was befitting of that rivalry.

The Baltimore Ravens came into this Week 8 matchup with only one loss under their belt. In a post-game interview with CBS, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was asked what it’s like to beat the Ravens on the road in dramatic fashion.

“It’s not always pretty,” Ben said with a grin. “But we find a way to get it done. I’m just so happy for these guys.”

When two of the league’s best defenses face each other, especially in-division, the win normally comes down to whichever team last possessed the ball. But because of outstanding defensive play, the Ravens couldn’t get it done.

“I’m just glad they’re my defense,” said Roethlisberger. “They’re so much fun to have as a part of this game. They stepped up when they needed to.”

After a huge pick-six by linebacker Robert Spillane on Baltimore’s first drive, the Steelers weren’t able to find a groove. Thankfully, due to halftime adjustments and Ben calling plays at the line, they turned things around.

“I’m proud of the way all those guys played,” the quarterback said. “JuJu got some really tough yards and took a beating and did some really good things. We spread it out and did some different things.”

After a quiet first half for the Steelers’ offense, they came alive in the last two quarters. Smith-Schuster had seven receptions for 67 yards. Tight end Eric Ebron and wide receiver Chase Claypool both pitched in scores on 42 and 48 yards, respectively.

Pittsburgh is 7-0 for only the second time since the franchise was founded in 1933.

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Watch: Steelers with fast start, pick-six of Lamar Jackson

Robert Spillane with the quick pick-six for the Steelers against the Ravens

That was swift. The undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time getting the jump on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens Sunday in their AFC North clash.

Another look:

Spillane is an undrafted free agent from Western Michigan, who signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2018. He has been with the Steelers for two seasons.