Category: NFL

Pickett Shines, Steelers top Jags in Preseason

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (8) looks for a receiver against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
By MARK LONG AP Pro Football Writer
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Kenny Pickett’s second preseason performance was as impressive as his first, and it came against better competition. Pittsburgh’s rookie quarterback completed 6 of 7 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in a 16-15 victory at Jacksonville on Saturday night. Pickett, who threw two TD passes while working with the third-team offense last week against Seattle, was on the field much earlier against the Jaguars. Although his first series was mostly a mess because of miscues, his second was about as good as could be expected. The 20th overall pick directed a 63-yard touchdown drive in the final minute of the first half. He capped the 42-second series with an 11-yard toss to running back Benny Snell.

Steelers Add Veteran DL Ogunjobi with 1-year Contract

(File Photo)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed veteran defensive end Larry Ogunjobi to a one-year deal. The signing shores up a position of need following Stephon Tuitt’s retirement earlier this month. The 28-year-old Ogunjobi spent last season with the Cincinnati Bengals. A tentative three-year agreement to play for the Chicago Bears was nullified when Ogunjobi failed a physical. He was recovering from foot surgery at the time of the signing. Ogunjobi played well last season for the Bengals, recording a career-high seven sacks. His arrival gives the Steelers another veteran to help shore up a run defense that finished dead last in the league in 2022.

Steelers All-Pro DT Cam Heyward Wins Writers’ Good Guy Award

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro defensive tackle Cameron Heyward has been selected as the 2022 Good Guy Award winner by the Professional Football Writers of America. Heyward, the 18th Good Guy Award winner, is the second member of the Steelers franchise to get the award, joining Jerome Bettis, who won the inaugural honor in 2005. The award is given to an NFL player for his qualities and professional style in helping pro football writers do their jobs. Heyward did not miss a media availability during the 2021 season, and those who covered the Steelers noted he doesn’t avoid answering tough questions. He was cited for consistently going “above and beyond” to build an honest rapport with those who cover the team.

Steelers Finish on-the-fly Offensive Retool with Draft Picks

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Retooling the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense is nearly complete after the NFL draft. The Steelers used five of their seven players on skill position players. Their haul included quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receivers George Pickens and Calvin Austin III. Pittsburgh also drafted running back/tight end Connor Heyward, the younger brother of All-Pro defensive lineman Cam Heyward. The Steelers will have one of the youngest offenses in the league in 2022, with every projected started age 28 or younger.

Steelers Tab Pitt QB Kenny Pickett as Big Ben’s Successor

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)

By WILL GRAVES AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Kenny Pickett is staying in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed the former University of Pittsburgh star with the 20th overall pick in the NFL draft. The move makes Pickett the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger, who retired in January. Pickett spent five seasons working on the other side of the building the Steelers share with the Panthers. He came into his own last fall when he threw for 42 touchdowns, was named ACC Player of the Year and finished in the Heisman Trophy behind Alabama quarterback Bryce Young and Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

Steelers Re-sign Safety Terrell Edmunds to 1-year deal

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers are bringing back safety Terrell Edmunds on a one-year deal. The deal will pay Edmunds $2.5 million. Pittsburgh drafted Edmunds in the first round in 2018, but declined to exercise his fifth-year option last spring. He put together a solid 2021, picking off two passes and finishing with 89 tackles in 17 games. The signing actually saved the Steelers more than $4 million based on what the value of Edmunds’ option would have been had they picked it up.

Haskins Apparently Ran Out of Gas Before Being Fatally Hit

(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)
By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins apparently ran out of gas and was returning to his vehicle when he was fatally struck by a dump truck earlier this month in Florida. The Florida Highway Patrol released Wednesday a recording of a 911 call Haskins’ wife Kalabrya made to the agency shortly after the April 9 accident. Calling from Pittsburgh and unaware of the accident, she told the dispatcher that Haskins had called her to say he had run out of gas and would call her back. When the former Ohio State star didn’t and she couldn’t reach him, she called 911.

Two Funeral Services Scheduled for Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins

(AP File Photo)
ROCKAWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — Funeral services for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who was killed when he was hit by a dump truck on Saturday, will take place next weekend. The first memorial will be held April 23 at noon at Christ Church in Rockaway Township. The next day, services will occur at Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. Haskins, 24, was hit by the truck while he was walking on a South Florida highway. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Steelers QB Dwayne Haskins Killed

(AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins has been killed in an auto accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Authorities say Haskins was hit by a dump truck while walking on a highway. The Steelers and Washington Commanders, his former team, released statements extending their condolences. The 24-year-old Haskins was a first-round draft choice of Washington in 2019 and started seven games, going 2-5 as a rookie. He was 1-5 in six starts the next season for the team, then was released on Dec. 29, 2020. A few weeks later, he was signed by Pittsburgh, but did not play in the 2021 season.

Kupp’s Late TD Lifts Rams over Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl

Kupp’s late TD lifts Rams over Bengals 23-20 in Super Bowl
By BARRY WILNER AP Pro Football Writer
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams carried off the crown jewel in a venue built for champions by winning the Super Bowl trophy. It took a precise 79-yard drive capped by Cooper Kupp’s 1-yard touchdown reception with 1:25 remaining for a 23-20 victory Sunday over the Cincinnati Bengals to give the Rams their first NFL title since the 1999 season and their first representing Los Angeles since 1951. They did it in their home, the $5 billion SoFi Stadium, making the Rams the second consecutive host to win the championship after Tampa Bay became the first ever a year ago.