Sadly, the Steelers season came to an end yesterday. It ended a whole lot better than what we thought after a 2-6 start, to a 9-8 record and a chance at the playoffs. And to cap it all off with four game win streak.
Even though the season ended yesterday, it’s never too early to start looking at next season. The 2023 season the Steelers have nine home games and eight away games.
The Steelers made three practice squad moves Wednesday. They signed RB Master Teague and WR Ja’Marcus Bradley to the squad and released DL Renell Wren.
This is a big game for the Steelers. They already have a 1-0 lead on the Bengals for the Season. The Steelers need to start stacking wins if they want to turn their season around.
This is also going to be Rookie QB Kenny Pickett’s first start against a team in the division. Outside Linebacker Alex Highsmith looks to pick up where he left off after the week one matchup where he had three sacks.
Let’s get into the players to watch.
Offense 8 Kenny Pickett, QB 22 Najee Harris, RB 14 George Pickens, WR 88 Pat Freiermuth, TE 83 Connor Heyward, TE 65 Dan Moore Jr, OT 78 James Daniels, G
Defense 99 Larry Ogunjobi, DE 97 Cam Heyward, DT 56 Alex Highsmith, OLB 51 Myles Jack, MLB 90 TJ Watt, OLB 29 Levi Wallace, CB 39 Minkah Fitzpatrick, S 23 Damontae Kazee, S
Special Teams 4 Matthew Wright, K 82 Steven Sims, RS 41 Robert Spillane, ST 13 Miles Boykin, ST
The Steelers are coming into this game seemingly as health as when the seasons started, with only one player that’s going to be out. The Bengals on the other hand are coming into this game pretty banged up. They are missing a big piece of their offense with WR Ja’Marr Chase still out with a Hip injury. They are also without rookie Safety Dax Hill.
Let’s get into the report.
Steelers Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Hamstring OUT
Bengals Chris Evens, RB Knee Questionable Tre Flowers, CB Hamstring Questionable Ja’Marr Chase, WR Hip OUT Josh Tupou, DT Calf OUT Dax Hill, S Shoulder OUT
It wasn’t a slow Friday around the league for workouts. Thirteen players were brought in for tryouts. It was a big day for Defensive Backs and Linebackers to get brought in with more than half of the tryouts were for those two positions.
Let’s get into the tryouts.
Browns Bubba Bolden, DB Antoine Brooks, DB Will Holden, OT Storey Jackson, LB Zakoby McClain, LB Will Richardson, OT
Raiders Julien Diaz, P Terez Hall, LB
Steelers Brock Miller, P
Commanders Scott Nelson, DB Aaron Shampklin, RB David Vereen, DB Antonio Williams, RB
The Steelers are finally getting healthy. It’s looking like we are getting the Saints at the right time. They are coming in so beat up.
Steelers finally get two players back on defense with TJ Watt and Damontae Kazee. Hopefully they can finally get the pass rush going again with the return of TJ “Sack” Watt.
Let’s get into the injury reports.
Steelers Kevin Dotson, G Abdomen Questionable Malik Reed, OLB Person Reasons Questionable William Jackson, CB Back OUT Ahkello Witherspoon, CB Hamstring OUT
Saints Marcus Davenport, DE Calf Questionable Tanoh Kpassagnon, DE Illness Questionable Marcus Maye, S Abdomen Questionable PJ Williams, S Illness Questionable Mark Ingram, RB Knee OUT Erik McCoy, C Calf OUT Andrus Peat, G Tricep OUT Pete Warner, OLB Ankle OUT Marshon Lattimore, CB Abdomen OUT
The Steelers are getting a big piece of the defense back this week with the return of TJ Watt. The Steelers are hoping this is going to help turn the season around.
The Steelers are looking to get their offense on track following the bye week. Some of the players have said this week that they have corrected some of the issues they were having.
Let’s get into the players.
Offense 8 Kenny Pickett, QB 30 Jaylen Warren, RB 14 George Pickens, WR 82 Steven Sims, WR 88 Pat Freiermuth, TE 83 Conner Heyward, TE 61 Mason Cole, C 78 James Daniels, G
Defense 97 Cam Heyward, DT 99 Larry Ogunjobi, DE 90 TJ Watt, OLB 56 Alex Highsmith, OLB 23 Damontae Kazee, S 20 Cam Sutton, CB 29 Levi Wallace, CB 39 Minkah Fitzpatrick, S
Special Teams 4 Matthew Wright, K 6 Pressley Harvin III, P 28 Miles Killebrew, ST 44 Derek Watt, ST
49ers Re-sign WR Willie Snead to the practice squad Released DE Akeem Spence Cut WR Malik Turner from the practice squad Trading RB Jeff Wilson to the Dolphins
Bears Trade a 2nd round pick for the Steelers WR Chase Claypool Waive WR Isaiah Coulter
Bengals Confirm torn ACL for CB Chidobe Awuzie Offensive Analyst Adam Zimmers dies at 38
Bills Reinstated CB Xavier Rhodes to the practice squad Released CB Jordan Miller from the practice squad Released DT Brandin Bryant and WR Isaiah Hodges Trade RB Zack Moss to the Colts for Nyheim Hines, RB
Broncos Sign OLB Zach McCloud to the practice squad Trade for Jets DE Jacob Martin Waived RB Devine Ozigbo Released LB Kana’i Mauga from the practice squad Traded Bradley Chubb to the Dolphins
Buccaneers Waive OL Fred Johnson Signed OLB JoJo Ozougwu
Cardinals Signed LB Kamu Gugier-Hill Signed DE Eric Banks to the practice squad Released OL Sage Doxtater and OL Danny Isadora from the practice squad
Chiefs Trade CB Rashad Fenton to the Falcons Signed OLB Azur Kamara and WR Dazz Newsome to the practice squad Activate CB Trent McDuffie from IR
Colts Fire OC Marcus Brady
Commanders Trade CB William Jackson to the Steelers
Cowboys Waive NT Trysten Hill
Dolphins Activate OT Austin Jackson Place OL Liam Eichenberg on IR Trade for Bradley Chubb
Falcons Trade S Dean Marlowe to the Bills Signed DE Amani Bledsoe to the practice squad Trade WR Calvin Ridley to the Jaguars
Lions Trade TE TJ Hockenson to the Vikings Signed S Brady Breeze to the practice squad
Packers Released RB Patrick Taylor Released OLB Kobe Jones from the practice squad
Panthers Re-signed LB Joel Iyiegboniwe Signed RB Nate McCary Released RB John Lovett and DB Gavin Heslop
Patriots Signed P Michael Palardy and G/C Hayden Howerton to the practice squad Released K Tristan Vizcaino and OLB Ron’Dell Carter from the practice squad
Ravens Activated LBs Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo
Saints Released Jordan Brown and QB Jake Luton from the practice squad
Seahawks Release WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside from the practice squad Cut CB Sidney Jones Signing WR Laquon Treadwell to the practice squad
Steelers Trade Chase Claypool, WR to the Bears Receive CB William Jackson in a trade with the Commanders
Texans Sign LB Buddy Johnson to the practice squad
Vikings Trade the Lions to receive TE T.J. Hockenson Place TE Irv Smith on IR
The Steelers have a hard task this week of traveling into Philadelphia to take on the 6-0 Eagles. The Steelers have not won an away game against the Eagles since 10/24/1965.
The Steelers are entering this game at 2-5, but this team still has a lot of fight in them, and they are looking to capitalize on that. Even with the 2-5 record, four of the five losses have been by one score.
I could see this a possible breakout game for this offense with everyone counting them out. The Defense although beat up still put up a fight each game.
Let’s get into the players to watch.
Offense 8 Kenny Pickett, QB 22 Najee Harris, RB 11 Chase Claypool, WR 14 George Pickens, WR 88 Pat Freiermuth, TE 65 Dan Moore Jr, OT 76 Chukwuma Okorafor, OT
Defense 92 Isaiahh Loudermilk, DT 57 Montravius Adams, NT 56 Alex Highsmith, OLB 51 Myles Jack, ILB 42 James Pierre, CB 20 Cameron Sutton, CB 39 Minkah Fitzpatrick, S 34 Terrell Edmunds, S
Special Teams 6 Pressley Harvin III, P 82 Steven Sims, RS 13 Miles Boykin, ST 27 Marcus Allen, ST
