Tag: Steelers vs. Lions

Steelers rookie Payton Wilson to play vs. Lions after injury scare

Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Payton Wilson has cleared concussion protocol and will play in preseason finale versus Detroit Lions.

Rookie inside linebacker Payton Wilson exited early from the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason matchup with the Buffalo Bills and was evaluated for a concussion.

The Steelers got a bit of good news with Wilson having cleared protocol. Per Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, Wilson will play in Pittsburgh’s preseason finale against the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

Wilson said the preseason has benefited him coming from college in adjusting to the speed of the NFL.

“I’ve really enjoyed the preseason because it’s slowing the game down a lot,” Wilson told Steelers media on Thursday. “It’s not like we’re just jumping right into week one, and then you have to adjust on the fly.”

Given the injury scare, the Steelers would be wise to limit Wilson to a drive or two. While it was never disclosed whether he suffered a concussion, it’s an injury that can’t be taken lightly.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin not ready to make play time vs. Lions public

News of exactly who will play in the Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 preseason finale versus the Detroit Lions will have to wait.

News of exactly who will play in the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ 2024 preseason finale versus the Detroit Lions will have to wait.

On Tuesday, Mike Tomlin told Steelers media he’ll address the playing time plan on Thursday after practice.

Pregame weather played a factor in Tomlin sitting T.J. Watt and others he’d planned to start in Pittsburgh’s matchup with the Buffalo Bills. And the offense sputtering for the second consecutive week left many to wonder if Tomlin would start players in Detroit that he’d normally sit this late in the preseason.

Typically, it would be the Kyle Allen and John Rhys Plumlee show for the final game of the preseason. However, Tomlin might like to see how Russell Wilson and Justin Fields operate a drive that actually results in a touchdown.

Or will Tomlin accept it is what it is and roll with the back end of the QB depth chart? Answers to these questions — and others — will be revealed on Thursday.

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Steelers ‘unacceptable’ run defense gashed by Lions in tie game

The Steelers D didn’t have an answer for the 26th ranked Lions rushing attack today.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense didn’t have an answer for the 26th ranked Detroit Lions rushing attack on Sunday.

Rookie Jemar Jefferson ripped off a 28-yard touchdown run — the longest by the Lions in eight years — before exiting the game with an ankle injury.

Jefferson didn’t return, but that didn’t matter because D’Andre Swift picked up where he left off and racked up 130 yards. Godwin Igwebuike added 56 yards and a score.

In total, the Steelers’ porous run defense allowed 229 yards on 39 carries, an average of 5.9 yards per attempt for Detroit’s first 200+ yard game since 2018.

“They came up with a good plan,” Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith said after the game. “But we gotta handle ourselves. Stopping the run is about whipping the man and making the tackle. Today was unacceptable. We can bet better, and we will be better.”

Highsmith had a solid game overall and, according to Pro Football Focus, produced the most tackles on defense with seven. But the ball wasn’t the only thing that was slippery out there. Missed tackles — eight total — were the downfall of the defense. Miles Killebrew whiffed on two, while Cameron Sutton, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Devin Bush, Cam Heyward, Derrek Tuszka and Highsmith each missed one.

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Steelers injury report: Latest updates for Week 10 vs. Detroit Lions

The Pittsburgh Steelers were back on the practice field Friday in preparation for their Week 10 matchup at Heinz Field.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are mostly healthy heading into Sunday’s home game against the 0-8 Detroit Lions.

Chase Claypool (toe) is the only Steeler ruled out.

Here’s the full injury report from Friday: