| News |
|---|
|
Jaylen Warren Jaylen Warren Logs full practice Thursday
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 4:22 PM
Warren (hip) practiced fully Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Warren was limited at practice Wednesday, but the running back's return to a full listing a day later paves the way for him to maintain his key role in Pittsburgh's backfield Sunday against the Browns. In the Steelers' win over the Lions in Week 16, Warren was on the field for 49 percent of his team's offensive snaps, while working alongside fellow RB Kenneth Gainwell, a game in which Warren carried 14 times for 143 yards and two TDs to go along with two catches (on two targets) for eight yards. Look for Warren to continue to be a focal point in Pittsburgh's offense this weekend, when the team will be missing top WR DK Metcalf, who was suspended for the Steelers' final two regular-season contests. |
|
Calvin Austin Calvin Austin Listed as DNP again
Thu, Dec 25, 2025, 4:11 PM
Austin (hamstring) did not practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Austin has now missed back-to-back practices to begin Week 17 prep, making it safe to say that he's trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's road matchup against the Browns. The starting wideout is dealing with a hamstring injury sustained Week 16 against the Lions. With DK Metcalf (suspension) already out for Pittsburgh's final two games of the regular season, it's possible that Adam Thielen, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson will have to serve as the Steelers' top wideouts versus Cleveland in Week 17. |
|
Jaylen Warren Jaylen Warren Logs limited practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 24, 2025, 2:55 PM
Warren (hip) was limited at practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official sitereports.
Analysis: Coach Mike Tomlin noted Wednesday that "Warren should be limited at the early portions of the week," which suggests that the running back may not practice fully Thursday either. That said, at this stage there's nothing to suggest that Warren will miss Sunday's game against the Browns, with the 9-6 Steelers firmly in the playoff hunt. In the team's Week 16 win over the Lions, Warren logged a 49 percent snap share while working in tandem with fellow RB Kenneth Gainwell, en route to rushing 14 times for 143 yards and two TDs to go along with two catches on two targets for eight yards. |
|
Calvin Austin Calvin Austin DNP to open Week 17 prep
Wed, Dec 24, 2025, 2:36 PM
Austin (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Austin injured his hamstring during the Steelers' Week 16 win over the Lions and was not cleared to return. The fourth-year wideout has worked in more of a rotational role at wide receiver over the past three weeks, but his absence would be detrimental to a Steelers offense that is already without DK Metcalf (suspension) for the final two games of the regular season. Austin will have two more opportunities to return to practice ahead of Sunday's AFC North tilt against the Browns. |
|
DK Metcalf DK Metcalf Suspension upheld
Tue, Dec 23, 2025, 6:42 PM
Metcalf had his two-game suspension upheld by the league Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Metcalf was handed a two-game suspension for "conduct detrimental to the NFL" after an altercation with a fan in Detroit on Sunday, and his appeal was denied. The wide receiver will now be forced to miss the team's final two games of the regular season, and as a result, $45 million in guaranteed money on his four-year contract has now been voided. In his absence, Calvin Austin (hamstring), Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling will all be candidates to see increased workloads in Week 17 against the Browns. |
|
DK Metcalf DK Metcalf Suspended for two games
Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 4:27 PM
Metcalf has been suspended two games for "conduct detrimental to the NFL for initiating a physical confrontation with a fan" during Sunday's game against the Lions, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Metcalf plans to appeal the suspension, but at this stage the wideout is slated to miss the Steelers' final two regular-season contests and would be eligible to return for the playoffs, should the team qualify. In Metcalf's looming absence, fellow WRs Calvin Austin (hamstring), Adam Thielen and Marquez Valdes-Scantling figure to see added opportunities, with TEs Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith also candidates to absorb some of the targets that would otherwise go Metcalf's way. |
|
Marquez Valdes-Scantling Marquez Valdes-Scantling Targeted three times Sunday
Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 9:56 AM
Valdes-Scantling secured one of three targets for six yards during Sunday's 29-24 win over the Lions.
Analysis: Valdes-Scantling reached the end zone during last week's win over the Dolphins, and he nearly caught a 60-yard touchdown in the third quarter of Sunday's Week 16 victory. However, the ball narrowly slipped through his fingers, and he was shaken up on the play. He returned to the game later in the drive but ultimately finished the matchup with an uninspiring stat line. Valdes-Scantling did rank third among Pittsburgh's wide receivers by playing 42 percent of the team's offensive snaps, but he's secured just two of five targets for 25 yards and a touchdown over his first three appearances with the Steelers. |
|
Pat Freiermuth Pat Freiermuth Tallies four catches in win
Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 9:49 AM
Freiermuth secured all four of his targets for 20 yards during Sunday's 29-24 win over Detroit.
Analysis: Freiermuth recorded 45 receiving yards -- his second-highest total of the season -- during last week's win over the Dolphins, and while he wasn't quite as productive in Week 16, his four receptions against the Lions marked his second-highest tally of the year. While Freiermuth has been slightly more productive than usual over the past two weeks, his fantasy production remains limited as he continues to share work with Darnell Washington and Jonnu Smith. |
|
Jonnu Smith Jonnu Smith Efficient as rusher
Mon, Dec 22, 2025, 9:44 AM
Smith failed to secure his lone target while gaining 28 rushing yards on two carries during Sunday's 29-24 win over the Lions.
Analysis: Smith scored a rushing touchdown during last week's win over the Dolphins, before recording a pair of fourth-quarter carries in Week 16. He began the Steelers' final drive of the game with a 20-yard run before rushing for eight yards two plays later. Despite Smith's recent increase in work out of the backfield, his fantasy upside remains limited as Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell remain entrenched as the team's top running backs, while Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth see more consistent target volume at tight end. |
|
Darnell Washington Darnell Washington Catches three passes in win
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 9:21 PM
Washington caught three of four targets for 36 yards in Sunday's 29-24 win over the Lions on Sunday.
Analysis: Both Washington and Pat Freiermuth each drew four targets to Jonnu Smith's one against Detroit. Playing in a three-man committee approach at tight end, Washington carries little fantasy appeal ahead of next Sunday's date with the Browns. |
|
Kenneth Gainwell Kenneth Gainwell Improbable TD catch
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 8:50 PM
Gainwell rushed the ball nine times for 50 yards in Sunday's 29-24 win over the Lions. He added five receptions on seven targets for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Analysis: Gainwell maintained his key role as a pass catcher in the Pittsburgh offense, finishing second on the team with seven targets. The Lions did a good job containing him for most of the game, though Gainwell managed an improbable 45-yard touchdown grab just before the end of the first half when he made the initial catch from the ground before popping up without being touched to reach the end zone. While overshadowed by Jaylen Warren on the ground, Gainwell also chipped in a long rush of 18 yards to help him reach 100 yards from scrimmage for the third time in his last five games. He's also reached the end zone twice in that span. |
|
Adam Thielen Adam Thielen Produces 49 yards in Week 16 win
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 8:47 PM
Thielen caught all four of his targets for 49 yards in the Steelers' 29-24 win over the Lions on Sunday.
Analysis: Thielen's targets, catches and yards were all new season-highs for the 35-year-old wideout. After producing just two catches for 11 yards on two targets in his first two games with the Steelers, Thielen finished second on the team in receiving against Detroit. He's emerging as a clear top-three wide receiver in Pittsburgh, but it's unlikely to translate to useful fantasy numbers outside of deeper formats ahead of next Sunday's game against the Browns. |
|
Jaylen Warren Jaylen Warren Career-best rushing performance
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 8:35 PM
Warren rushed the ball 14 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 29-24 win over the Lions. He added two receptions on two targets for eight yards.
Analysis: The backfield split in Pittsburgh remained consistent, with Warren taking the lead on the ground and Kenneth Gainwell working as the preferred pass catcher. Warren came alive in the second half, ripping off nearly identical 45-yard touchdown runs on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter while also chipping in an additional 21-yard gain. The end result was a career-high 143 yards on the ground and Warren's first time cracking the century mark since Week 7. It was a needed showing, as he had also been held below 40 rushing yards in three straight games entering Sunday's matchup. |
|
Calvin Austin Calvin Austin Questionable due to hamstring
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 5:57 PM
Austin (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Lions, Burt Lauten of the Steelers' official site reports.
Analysis: Austin exited the game in the fourth quarter after sustaining the injury. The wide receiver caught his sole target for an eight-yard gain before his exit. |
|
Kaleb Johnson Kaleb Johnson Sitting out Week 16
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 2:29 PM
Johnson (coach's decision) is a healthy scratch for Sunday's clash against the Lions.
Analysis: Johnson has been getting very little work on offense with just eight snaps over his past three games. He'll be entirely out of the picture Sunday, representing his fifth missed contest this season. Pittsburgh has just two running backs -- Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell -- active against Detroit. |
|
Roman Wilson Roman Wilson Healthy scratch again Week 16
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 2:23 PM
Wilson (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's clash against Detroit.
Analysis: This is the third straight week that Wilson is a healthy inactive. Prior to this run, he had been seeing steady offensive snaps. However, the Steelers' signing of Adam Thielen appears to have pushed Wilson out of the wideout pecking order. |
|
Will Howard Will Howard Emergency QB again for Week 16
Sun, Dec 21, 2025, 2:18 PM
Howard (coach's decision) is inactive and will serve as Pittsburgh's emergency third quarterback Sunday against Detroit.
Analysis: This is Howard's usual role, as both Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph are ahead of him on the QB depth chart. The only way Howard can enter the contest Sunday is if both Rodgers and Rudolph have to exit due to injury, illness or ejection. |
|
Ben Skowronek Ben Skowronek Cleared for Sunday
Fri, Dec 19, 2025, 4:26 PM
Skowronek (illness/hand) doesn't have an injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Lions, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Similar to last week, Skowronek managed to log a full practice on the final day of the week to be cleared of any injury designation heading into gameday. This marks consecutive weeks that the wide receiver will play through a hand injury. The 28-year-old played just four offensive snaps last week with no targets, making his living on 65 percent of special teams snaps. This week will likely be no different for Skowronek, who sits behind DK Metcalf, Calvin Austin, Adam Thielen, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling on the wide receiver depth chart. |
|
Ben Skowronek Ben Skowronek Limited Wednesday
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 5:56 PM
Skowronek (illness/hand) was limited in Wednesday's practice.
Analysis: Skowronek dealt with the hand issue last week in practice, but the illness is new for the special-teams standout and wide receiver. Skowronek has posted a career-high 19 tackles (nine solo) in kick coverage for Pittsburgh. |
|
Connor Heyward Connor Heyward Finds paydirt in Week 15
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 2:03 PM
Heyward carried four times for four yards and a touchdown in Monday's 28-15 win over the Dolphins.
Analysis: A hybrid fullback/tight end who had logged just eight touches through the Steelers' first 13 games of the season, Heyward was surprisingly called upon for direct snaps on all four occasions he was on the field for the Pittsburgh offense in Monday's win. After extending drives in the first and second quarters on a pair of 4th-and-1 conversions, Heyward then found paydirt on a 3rd-and-goal carry with 17 seconds left in the first half to give Pittsburgh its first points of the night. The touchdown was the second of the season for Heyward, who previously recorded a 12-yard receiving score in a Week 6 win over the Browns. |
Connect With Us:
