Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
It’s not easy to find something to feel good about in the Steelers performance versus Dallas.
A team that has nothing to lose is one to fear. The Steelers feared not heading into this game — and it showed.
Yet, they managed to squeak out another win to remain undefeated.
Here are some observations from the game:
The tight end traveled with his team to play in Steelers-Cowboys matchup tomorrow.
Vance McDonald, who traveled with the team this afternoon, was listed on the Steelers injury report on Friday with an illness. That illness was not the coronavirus.
McDonald would not have traveled today if he had the virus. It’s that time of year where people and, yes, players get things called a “cold” and the “flu.”
Though the type of illness is not specified on team reports, you can rest assured it wasn’t COVID-19.
Here’s why.
If a player tests positive for the virus, he is designated reserve/COVID-19. This designation is specifically for a player who either tests positive for COVID-19 or who has been in “close contact with infected person or persons.”
After Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week, our friends over at For The Win posted a great piece that breaks everything down nicely.
FWIW, team photos show Vance McDonald boarding the plane for Dallas. He missed practice Friday with an illness.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) November 7, 2020
Per TribLive’s Joe Rutter, Steelers tight end Vance McDonald boarded a plane headed for Dallas Saturday afternoon.
For more information, check out these links:
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A new concept for the 2020 season is the “protected” practice squad. Here are the four players the Steelers chose to protect.
For Week 9 practice squad protections, Pittsburgh tabbed wide receiver Deon Cain, linebacker Jayrone Elliott and running back Wendell Smallwood. For the first time this season, the Steelers have also protected rookie defensive back Antoine Brooks. The safety was a sixth-round selection.
These four are not eligible to sign with another team until after Sunday’s game.
Practice squad “protection” is a new concept for the 2020 season. It’s a concession for the potential personnel shortages that could occur if the virus strikes the locker room.
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Teams can designate protected players each Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m., except for clubs that played on the previous Monday night; their designations go into effect prior to 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The Steelers continue their 2020 season Sunday, Nov. 8 versus the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are all-too-familiar with the QB carousel that the Cowboys are dealing with right now.
On Tuesday, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin explained in his weekly press conference that his team was preparing to face Dallas Cowboys quarterback Andy Dalton.
Considering Dalton was still in concussion protocol at the time of the press conference, I have to presume Tomlin anticipated the quarterback would be cleared to play this week.
Moments after Tomlin’s press conference ended, it was revealed that Dalton was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Time for the Steelers to switch gears — yet again.
After the Dalton news was announced, Joe Rutter of TribLive wrote of the Steelers having to prepare for rookie Ben DiNucci.
Hold the presses.
According to a source of NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Dallas Cowboys are strongly considering starting practice squad quarterback Cooper Rush versus Pittsburgh this week.
The #Cowboys are seriously contemplating turning to QB Cooper Rush as their starter this week… which would require he get activated from the practice squad, source said. With Andy Dalton down with COVID, it may not be Ben DiNucci again.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 3, 2020
As of Monday, Dalton — no stranger to the Steelers — was still in concussion protocol after a Week 7 vicious hit from former Pittsburgh linebacker Jon Bostic.
Rush has appeared in five games for Dallas. The most action the third-year quarterback saw was in 2017 when he had one completion on three pass attempts. In three other games in 2018 and 2019, Rush took the field for mere kneel-downs.
Ben DiNucci, selected by the Cowboys in the 7th round of the 2020 NFL draft, has played in Dalton’s relief. In three games (one start), the rookie is 23-for-43 with 219 yards, zero touchdowns and no interceptions.
It’s quite possible the Steelers won’t know which quarterback they will be up against until inactives are announced on Sunday afternoon.
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