Teresa Varley

Wednesday, October 8

Sticking with the process:Running back Jaylen Warren was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, returning after missing the Steelers win over the Minnesota Vikings with a knee injury.

Warren is happy to be back.

"We we're just being preventative," said Warren of missing the Vikings game. "We had the bye the following week. So it was that decision, whatever they thought I was good."

With Warren out, Kenneth Gainwell got the start and responded with 19 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns.

It was a performance Warren enjoayed watching and wasn't surprised by Gainwell's success.

"He was fantastic," said Warren. "It was good seeing him. We all knew watching practice every day that was going to come to light. As you all saw it, that's the game it came."

The running game produced 131 yards against the Vikings, some of that thanks to extra blocking by offensive lineman Spencer Anderson, who reported eligible, and tight end Darnell Washington.

"The more big bodies there are the better," said Warren. "I mean, as you all saw last game, they were moving people and film doesn't lie. They do that thing and as running backs, we love to see that."

Whether there is more of that this week or not has yet to be determined. But it might be needed.

The Browns have the NFL's No. 1 ranked run defense, and it's going to be a challenge on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.

"They have a very good front, very good secondary," said Warren. "But we got some players too. So, we're just excited to do our thing."

Warren knows the Browns are going to be out to stop the run and he is ready to do whatever offensive coordinator Arthur Smith dials up on Sunday to get a win.

"I'm going to just stick with the process," said Warren. "We got guys over here and whatever Art decides to call, that's what we play behind."

Playmakers all over the field:DK Metcalf loves to catch passes.

Of course he does, he's a receiver.

But when you are a Steelers receiver, there is another aspect to the game.

Blocking.

And he welcomes that, as do his fellow receivers, helping the run game when they need to, and helping each other as well.

"Everybody's willing to take on that challenge," said Metcalf. "Receivers are known for catching the football, but we've got everybody in the room wanting to block. We just take it seriously, because those are our brothers running the ball."

Metcalf can move when he has the ball in his hands as well, clearly evidenced against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland when he had an 80-yard catch and run touchdown.

It's just another example of what Metcalf points out about the talent on the offensive side of the ball.

"We've got playmakers all over the field," said Metcalf. "I'm just happy to be here playing football. We're 3-1 right now, just looking forward to playing the Browns on Sunday."

And as far as where Metcalf thinks the offense is right now as a whole, he knows only time will tell.

"We won't know until Sunday," said Metcalf. "I don't have a good measuring stick of how good our run game is going to be until we line up and play on Sunday. But the biggest point of turning those run plays into explosives, is everybody doing their job.

"Receivers blocking, tight ends blocking, running back running, hitting the hole, trusting.

"I think it's just a big group effort every time we step out on the field."

Making moves:The Steelers signed linebacker Jacoby Windmon to the practice squad.

Windmon was originally signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. He spent time on the team's practice squad.

He was signed by the Carolina Panthers partway through the 2024 season, playing in eight games, with two starts. He had 22 tackles and one and half sacks for the Panthers.

Windmon played in 41 career games in college, playing two seasons at Michigan State after transferring from UNLV. In 2023 he played in 11 games, recording 64 tackles, 23 of them solo stops. He had 12.5 tackles for a loss and six and a half sacks. He also had six forced fumbles, three passes defensed and an interception. For his career he had 233 tackles with 27 tackles for a loss, 18.5 sacks, six passes broken up, nine forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery.

That's more like it:The Steelers' running game was appreciably different against Minnesota in Dublin, statistically and in the way it felt for those paving the way up front.

"We were having fun out there," offensive lineman Spencer Anderson acknowledged. "We were coming on the sideline having fun, just getting back to what we know and playing our brand of ball.

"We had a couple of successful runs the past weeks. But two weeks ago, whenever it was, I feel like we kinda took off in the run game."

The Steelers rushed a season-high 29 times for a season-high 131 yards, including a season-high 11 rushing first downs and a season-high two rushing touchdowns in their 24-21 win over the Vikings on Sept. 28 in Ireland.

After struggling to find rhythm and consistency on the ground over the season's first three weeks, the Steelers were able to eliminate the outside noise on the way to "getting back to what we know," Anderson maintained.

"Just believing in ourselves and not trying to do too much," he said. "Obviously, throughout the weeks, you can get kinda the pressure on, like 'maybe the O-line's doing this,' or 'maybe the O-line needs to do that.'

"At the end of the day, just cover guys up and let (running back) Jaylen (Warren) and 'Kenny G' (running back Kenneth Gainwell) and (running back) Kaleb (Johnson) do whatever they need to do."

A significant component of the ground game's resurgence against Minnesota was Anderson reporting in as an extra tight end ("No. 74 is eligible"). Anderson played 19 offensive snaps against the Vikings (35.8 percent) after having appeared on a combined nine offensive snaps over the season's first three weeks.

The Steelers deployed Anderson in such a fashion because of a desired schematic matchup, and, Anderson suspected, because his performance since training camp made using him in that capacity a viable option in the eyes of the coaching staff.

"Just every day during practice, doing my job," Anderson said. "A lot of the time during (training) camp, I have those days where I have a heavy workload because (veteran left guard) Isaac (Seumalo) is not practicing and what not. Just every day during camp, doing my job. Obviously, it worked for me and obviously, they see a level of trust."

Anderson, a seventh-round pick out of Maryland in 2023, made his first four career starts last season (three over the course of the first three games, all in place of Seumalo, and as an extra tight end on Nov. 17 against the Ravens).

"Obviously, that was our focus last (game)," he said of potential steady work as an extra tight end. "We'll see what it ends up being in the long run. It worked for us last (game) and I thought it was pretty good."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

Rivalry week:Offensive tackle Broderick Jones doesn't have to look at a schedule to be made aware of what's coming up next for the Steelers.

Head coach Mike Tomlin has already sent the tone in advance of the first AFC North Division game of the season on Sunday against Cleveland.

As Tomlin traditionally does.

"You can just tell when it's a divisional week," Jones said. "He comes in with a different mindset, a different fire about himself. He does a good job just preparing us and having us ready for those games when they come around. Just the grit it takes to get through one of those games because they're so physical, you just gotta continue to grind it out. And he knows that and he tells us that.

"I feel like he prepares us the best way possible for those games."

Tomlin's message always resonates in such situations, in Jones' estimation.

"Once 'Mike T' says something, he's like everybody's dad in the locker room," Jones continued. "You listen to what he's saying and you take it in. We try to implement that in our day-to-day.

"We're just trying to come out and get it for him and for us and this team."

Jones has a pretty good idea what that'll demand.

"You just gotta have that 'oomph' about you when it's time to play those little big brothers in your division," he said. "You just gotta be on your 'A' game."

That might be of particular importance to Jones if a matchup against Browns defensive end Myles Garrett materializes.

Jones was asked what sets Garrett apart after practice today.

"What doesn't set him apart is the question," Jones countered. "He's just an amazing player all around. Plays the run, plays the pass, he's just a freak of nature. You gotta do everything you can to slow him down. You just try to keep a lid on him, I guess that's the right way to say it.

"That's the gameplan. Hopefully, we can stick to it and execute."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

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Monday, October 6

Glad to be back:The Steelers are coming off their bye this week with a 3-1 record and in first place in the AFC North.

And that isn't even the good news.

The good news is, they could be getting a few more weapons back on defense.

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. said on Monday that he is doing 'great' and projects himself to return to the field this week when the Steelers host the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium.

"I'm good," said Porter. "I'm doing great. Glad to be back."

When pushed even more if he is certain about this week, Porter left little doubt about his availability.

"Yeah, definitely," said Porter. "Yeah, I'll be back for sure."

Porter missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and said the timing of the bye week was perfect for some last-minute healing.

"I wanted to get back before the bye week, just to get my little groove in, but it was for the greater good," said Porter. "I sat. I got some more time. So yeah, we're ready now."

While Porter wanted to push his way back onto the field, he knew there was a plan and that Coach Mike Tomlin was looking out for his best interest in the long run.

"He had a timeline in mind, and he's the head coach, so he's got that right," said Porter. "So, whatever he calls, I'm with it."

The secondary has dealt with its share of injuries so far this season, including Porter, DeShon Elliott and most recently Jalen Ramsey, who was injured in the win over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland.

Getting Elliott back for the Vikings game, and likely Porter for the Browns game, gives the unit a boost, but it's a unit that is prepared no matter who is out there.

"It's really going to be the same," said Porter. "Coach said before I went down, we've got horses. We've got a lot of good guys that come in and make plays. I went down and then we had Brandin Echols step up and make some plays these past couple of games.

"So, I feel like the clock is just going to keep ticking. We're going to just keep grinding and striving to be our best out there.

"That's just a part of football. We all know that. Going in, we've all got to have our guys ready and be prepared so when one guy goes down, we already know the next guy's up and we're going to focus on that guy that's up. We're not really going to worry too much about the guy that's down. We're going to let him get recovery and come back, but we just got to keep going."

The Steelers will be facing a Browns team that is coming off a loss to the Vikings in London, with a rookie quarterback in Dillon Gabriel who will be making only his second NFL start.

Porter said the focus this week isn't on Gabriel, but the scheme as a whole in a game that always brings out the best of both rivals.

"We're really not looking at the rookie quarterback, we're really looking just at the rivalry in itself," said Porter. "This is one of those games, it doesn't matter who's out there, it's going to be a close battle. And that's how we're preparing for it regardless of the situation.

"We're just going to keep moving forward with that mentality."

Feeling optimistic:The good news didn't just come from Porter on Monday.

Linebacker Alex Highsmith was also optimistic about his return to the field.

Highsmith said he took part in individual drills during a 'bonus Monday' practice and hopes to continue to work his way back as the week progresses.

"I'm feeling good," said Highsmith. "We'll see how things pan out this week.

"I think the plan we have laid out for me right now is good. And obviously, I want to have a full day of work to have that confidence to be able to get back out there.

"Today was a good start, doing individual work, get some team on Wednesday and Thursday, and so by Friday we'll also be full go and then ready for Sunday.

"I'm feeling good. Working back into it. I did a lot of stuff on the field last week, and so it's a little stiff. But I'm confident that this is going to be a good week of practice and I'll be able to go on Sunday. So, nothing's confirmed yet, but just got to keep progressing this week."

Highsmith, who didn't make the trip to Dublin, Ireland with the team for the Vikings game, said he didn't feel like he would have been ready to go for that game and the time off helped.

"This was my first high ankle (injury) and it's something that's been lingering a little bit over the past couple weeks since it happened," said Highsmith. "But like I said, it's feeling much better. I've been taping it well.

"So, I feel like I had a good day today. I've just got to continue to progress throughout this week to be able to get out there on Sunday."

Highsmith missed the last two games with the ankle injury, but while he was out liked what he saw from third-year linebacker Nick Herbig. Now, with Highsmith on the mend, the trio of him, Herbig and T.J. Watt could be menacing for opposing offenses.

"It's a great package that we have," said Highsmith. "We did it some last year. And I think when all three of us are out there, we can make splash plays. We did that last year, so I'm just looking forward to seeing how we continue to build on that, whether it's switching around, different positions and whatnot.

"I think we have a lot of versatility with the three of us being in at the same time. I'm just ready to see it come to fruition this game.

"I just can't wait to get back out there with the guys and join that sack party."

Keeping a positive outlook:While there was good news on the defensive side of the ball from an injury standpoint, receiver Calvin Austin III is dealing with a shoulder injury that he suffered against the Vikings, with his timeline something that has yet to be determined.

"I'm just taking it a day at a time," said Austin. "I'm going to listen to the medical staff and Coach (Mike) Tomlin. And whenever that time is, I'll be ready.

"Taking it a day at a time, working through it and I know in due time, when it's right, I'll be out there and ready."

While Austin is keeping that positive outlook, he also admits that it is frustrating suffering the injury, especially with the way the offense is gelling.

"It's frustrating, but at the end of the day, I know God has a plan for me and I've got good teammates, staff here," said Austin. "I'm just taking it one day at a time.

"I know this is going to be something that for me in the future is going to build the ability to get past adversity and it's just one of those moments."

Bringing you the action:For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place.

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