Steelers QB room fine, but not in the Big Apple | News, sports, jobs

By Will Graves

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH – The relentless questions surrounding Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation appear to have finally stopped.

At least temporarily.

That Russell Wilson accounted for three touchdowns and showed flashes of his “Let Russ Cook” top — as he did in a win over the Jets in his Steelers debut last week — certainly helped.

Mike Tomlin, who was constantly inundated with the status of his quarterback room over the first few weeks as Wilson rehabbed a calf injury and backup Justin Fields performed capably in Wilson’s absence, was faced with a single question about whether Wilson would once again be the would receive honors when the Steelers (5)-2) host the struggling New York Giants (2-5) on Monday night. And even that was just for clarification.

“He’s scheduled to take on first-team reps,” Tomlin said. The smile on his face and the hint of sarcasm in his voice as he spoke conveyed the air of a coach eager to move on.

Those same questions that have quieted in Pittsburgh only seem to be growing louder in New York, where the Giants are reeling and Daniel Jones hardly resembles the player who led the organization to sign him with a four-year extension. worth $160 million, just over 18 years. months ago.

New York coach Brian Daboll — whose job status appears to be stable going forward at this point — is sticking with Jones for now, believing that the problems plaguing the 30th-ranked NFL offense run much deeper than its quarterback.

“He’s the starter and we’ll work on improving the things we need to improve,” Daboll said of Jones.

And the Giants will have to do it against a TJ Watt-led Steelers defense that ranks second in the NFL in takeaways and points allowed. Oh, and they’ll have to do it in Pittsburgh, which hasn’t lost a Monday night game at home since 1991, a streak of 21 straight wins.

“Before some of you were born, the Steelers met a standard on defense and they did for a long time, and they still do,” Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton said. “It’s obviously going to take a physical four-quarter game before we can beat them.”

Or just the kind of play the Steelers specialize in, especially at home under the bright Monday night lights.

If there’s a silver lining to Jones’ very real struggles at home, it’s that he’s better on the road. Jones is one of three quarterbacks with more than two TD passes and a rating above 100 in three road games this season.

Block culture

Pittsburgh special teams coordinator Danny Smith is challenging one of his units to score at least one kick a week, an audacious goal for which he makes no apologies.

Smith’s players are listening. The Steelers have blocked a punt in three straight games, the first time a team has done that since the New England Patriots in 2017. And that’s without All-Pro Special Teams standout Miles Killebrew getting into the mix . That’s fine for Killebrew, who is more than happy to see teammates like defensive tackle Dean Lowry and outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon get into the mix.

“It’s addictive,” Killebrew said. “I can say from experience that blocking a kick in a match is probably one of the most exciting things you can do in this sport. It is a game changer.”

Think of Malik

Giants rookie receiver Malik Nabers caught a season-high four passes last week as he returned from a concussion that forced him to miss two games.

When asked why only four, the first-round pick replied bluntly: He was “open” then.

The best way for New York to ease the upset comes through Nabers, who ranks seventh in the league with 39 receptions.

“Those guys who get the opportunity to hug (commissioner) Roger Goodell guy (at the draft) usually it’s because of some real tangible things and some real intangible things as well,” Tomlin said. “And (Nabers) has both, and he has our attention in that regard.”

Cam’s milestone

Longtime Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward will appear in his 202nd regular-season game Monday, the most ever by a Steelers defenseman, breaking a tie with Hall of Fame defenseman Donnie Shell.

The 35-year-old Heyward hasn’t lost many steps in his 14th season. Heyward’s three sacks are one more than during his injury-marred 2023 and he is one of the main reasons the Steelers are third in the league against the run.

Heyward, a six-time Pro Bowler, understands who he is facing in the team record book. It’s one of the reasons why he doesn’t take his role for granted even now.

“It’s something I have to produce,” he said. “And you know what, I want to keep my end of the deal.”

Running towards daylight

Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been an injury-riddled puzzle for most of the season, with five different starting combinations in seven games.

Still, the constant shuffle up front hasn’t slowed down the ongoing game. The Steelers are certainly starting to find their feet, with Najee Harris leading the way. Harris has topped 100 yards in consecutive weeks for the second time in his career, most of which came in the second half as opposing defenses wore down.

“I guess that’s just football,” Tomlin said. “I think anyone who is committed to running the game is going to fight a war of attrition if you like… the dam will eventually break.”