Tag: Steelers 2024 preseason

Severe weather in Pittsburgh could delay Steelers-Bills preseason game

Severe weather could impact tonight’s preseason game between the Steelers and Bills. 

Severe weather could impact tonight’s preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills.

A flood advisory has been issued for Pittsburgh, with the forecast calling for heavy showers, thunderstorms and localized damaging wind gusts.

Acrisure Stadium’s social media team tweeted a warning advising fans in attendance to take cover should the forecast come true.

Game two is critical for both starters and depth players, as it mimics the regular season without counting in the standings. But it could be bad news if the weather causes issues with players’ footing.

Two weeks ago, the 2024 preseason opener Hall of Fame Game was suspended and ultimately canceled due to heavy rain and lightning.

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Mike Tomlin: Sand is running ‘through the hourglass’ for Steelers in Bills matchup

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin expects all hands on for his team’s preseason matchup with the Buffalo Bills.

Just as training camp time flew for the Pittsburgh Steelers, so is the preseason and Mike Tomlin‘s opportunities to determine the best players (and positions) for his 2024 squad.

For that reason, Tomlin described his approach to the Steelers’ final preseason home game as all hands-on.

“We’ve got a really inclusive mentality about participation in this game,” Tomlin said of Saturday’s Buffalo Bills contest “We’re not setting anyone aside to minimize their reps or to look at others. All of those that are healthy will participate in the game.

“That’s our mentality; the sand [is] starting to run through the hourglass in terms of us divvying ourselves up and carving out a role for yourself in this thing.”

When the Steelers travel to Detroit for the preseason finale against the Lions, the approach won’t be quite as inclusive. Bubble players will gut it out for those precious spots on the 53-man roster while the entrenched play spectator.

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Mike Tomlin: Russell Wilson will start preseason matchup vs. Bills

Steelers QB Russell Wilson will start his first game in the Black and Gold versus the Bills.

Following the Pittsburgh Steelers’ joint practice with the Buffalo Bills, Mike Tomlin previewed what to expect Saturday night: The chief most being, barring a setback, Russell Wilson getting his first start in the Black and Gold. Preseason or not, it’s history in the making.

Wilson was sidelined for the first game of the preseason with a calf injury, with Justin Fields getting the nod in Pittsburgh’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans. He was 5-of-6 for 67 yards but lost two fumbles after poor center-to-quarterback exchanges.

We expect the competition to bring out the best in Wilson in Pittsburgh’s final preseason home game. Since returning to practice on a limited basis on July 30, he’s had ample time to ramp up. Hopefully, Wilson will give Steelers Nation and the NFL a good glimpse of what to expect when the games mean something.

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Steelers QB Russell Wilson ‘ahead of schedule’ with calf injury

Steelers QB Russell Wilson feels good about the progress he’s made since returning to training camp practice.

Training camp has come to a close for the 2024 season, and Russell Wilson feels good about his progress since returning to practice on Aug. 6.

Wilson sustained a calf strain while taking on the sled before Pittsburgh’s opening training camp session.

Wilson had this to say via TribLive’s Chris Adamski:

I’ve been working every single day; even the days I was a little bit lighter in team [drills], I was doing all the fundamental work. Obviously, over the last two weeks, I’ve really been building up a lot more reps in team drills. That’s been great. I’ve been full [practice] for the last several days.

I’m feeling good. I’m ahead of schedule. I’m just staying the course.

Wilson’s injury could’ve been far worse, forcing Justin Fields to open the 2024 regular season. Thankfully, it sounds as if the veteran is rearing to go.

Mike Tomlin walked back his Texans postgame press conference statement that Wilson would play versus the Bills this week. As of Monday, it was undetermined which Steelers would take the field at Acrisure Stadium.

While we need to see more than 17 snaps from Fields this week, it’s equally important to see Wilson get meaningful preseason reps. Sure, Wilson is a veteran, but with a new team and new offensive coordinator comes new challenges.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin changing tune on Russell Wilson playing vs. Bills

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin is now walking back a statement that once seemed definitive about Russell Wilson’s availability vs. Bills.

It came as a surprise when Mike Tomlin said without hesitation that Russell Wilson would play versus the Buffalo Bills this weekend. He’s typically not that forthcoming eight days before a matchup. After Pittsburgh’s lopsided loss to the Houston Texans on Friday night, Tomlin said Wilson would play in the preseason’s second game.

Tomlin is now walking back a statement that once seemed definitive.

“We haven’t determined that yet,” Tomlin said on Monday when asked who will start this weekend. “We’re Steelers versus Steelers right now. We’ll get to some of that stuff later in the week.”

Should Wilson get a helmet Saturday, it could be his only opportunity to show what he can do with the Steelers’ new offense before the regular season kickoff should Tomlin choose to sit starters in the final preseason game versus the Lions on Aug. 24.

Tomlin will have his weekly opponent preview press conference on Wednesday and could disclose whether Wilson will start this weekend.

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Steelers LB Payton Wilson makes bold statement after rookie debut

Rookie linebacker Payton Wilson shined in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason opener vs. the Houston Texans.

In action typical of the first game in seven months, the Pittsburgh Steelers were rusty on both sides of the ball in the first game of the 2024 season.

Several highlights and standout players, including rookie linebacker Payton Wilson, came from Pittsburgh’s preseason loss to the Houston Texans.

Wilson finished his NFL debut as the leader in tackles with seven, including one for loss. In coverage, Wilson forced an incomplete pass of Texans’ John Metchie III.

“I’m more worried about the plays that I’ve missed, rather than the ones that I made,” Wilson told the media, via Sports Illustrated’s Bo Marchionete. “There’s always room to improve. My goal is to be the best in the world and there’s definitely a lot of room to get to that.”

Being the best in the world is certainly a bold statement, but something that every athlete strives for. Pittsburgh’s third-round pick has his entire pro career ahead of him to make that happen.

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Steelers QB Justin Fields shoulders blame in offensive struggles vs. Texans

As any good leader does, Justin Fields shouldered the blame in the Steelers’ offensive struggles against the Texans.

As any good leader does, Justin Fields shouldered the blame in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive struggles against the Houston Texans. He didn’t throw veteran lineman Nate Herbig under the bus, but he easily could have.

“I think the snapping part, we’ve just got to be on the same page,” Fields said after the game. “I will put that on me to just be on the same page and know who’s in at center, know how to adjust and what I need to do next in the game.”

Herbig, who started the game at center over second-round rookie Zach Frazier, and Fields had two fumbled exchanges in just three drives which is inexcusable, even in preseason.

“I think, overall, we ran the ball well, moved the ball well,” said Fields. “I think, just a summary of the game, we were just shooting ourselves in the foot, fumbled snaps, I think all three phases. We could definitely be better on that part.”

The Steelers’ offense came out solid with Fields starting the game a perfect five-for-five. “I feel like I was in a good rhythm… I think the overall rhythm of things, we were in and out of the huddle fast and felt good overall.”

Fields finished the night five-for-six with 67 yards passing. Unfortunately, Houston’s starting defense helped keep Pittsburgh from marching down the field to score.

The Steelers stay home for their second preseason game, welcoming the Buffalo Bills to Acrisure. While it’s undetermined who will start at quarterback, Mike Tomlin did say Friday night that Russell Wilson will play.

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Russell Wilson will play first game in Steelers uniform vs. Bills

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin will play quarterback Russell Wilson in game two of the preseason versus the Buffalo Bills.

Mike Tomlin opted not to play veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason opener but didn’t hesitate on whether he would next week.

“I do,” Tomlin said in his post-game press conference of Wilson being available to play against the Buffalo Bills on August 17.

Wilson would’ve preferred to play but has been nursing a calf strain that he sustained at the opening training camp on July 30. He practiced fully for the first time earlier this week, splitting reps with Justin Fields.

It’s no surprise Wilson will get a helmet, given the second game is typically Pittsburgh’s dress rehearsal, with starters sitting in the final matchup of the preseason. It’ll be Wilson’s only opportunity to show what he can do with the Steelers’ new offense before the regular season kickoff on Sept. 8.

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