Report: Steelers signing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to team’s practice squad, marking return to Steelers

(Caption for Photo: Steelers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling goes for a pass in a Dec. 21, 2025, game against the Lions in Detroit. Credit for Photo: Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a report from “The Athletic” last night, the Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to sign veteran wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling to the team’s practice squad.

The Los Angeles Chargers released the thirty-two-year-old Valdes-Scantling on Saturday.

He returns to the Steelers after playing for them in 2025 and caught 10 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.

One of the NFL teams that Valdes-Scantling previously played for was the Green Bay Packers, and he has chemistry with Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy.

Valdez-Scantling played for the Packers from 2018-2021, and Rodgers was the Packers’ starting quarterback at that time, and McCarthy was the head coach for the Packers during the 2018 season.

Valdez-Scantling’s return to the Steelers comes as the Steelers are dealing with injuries to several of the team’s wide receivers.

The Steelers played a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa on Sunday without wide receivers Michael Pittman Jr., Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson.

Valdez-Scantling’s accolades include being a two-time Super Bowl champion wide receiver in his only two seasons playing for the Kansas City Chiefs (2022 and 2023).

Mammoth hold off late charge from Penguins for 5-4 win

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Utah Mammoth right wing Kailer Yammamoto, front right, scores against Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs (37) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Monday, October 19, 2026, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Tyler Tate)

(SALT LAKE CITY- AP)– — Clayton Keller, Kevin Stenlund, Nate Schmidt and Nick Schmaltz all tallied a goal and an assist to help the Utah Mammoth beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 on Monday night.

Kailer Yamamoto added a goal, and Sebastian Cossa had 15 stops for Utah.

Erik Karlsson, Richard Rakell, Egor Chinakhov, and Declan Carlile each scored for Pittsburgh. Bryan Rust assisted on two goals. Arturs Silovs tallied 24 saves.

Karlsson’s deflected power-play goal put the Penguins on the board just 71 seconds into the game.

Keller leveled the score with a backhand at 6:00 of the first with his third goal in three games. Lawson Crouse snagged the puck near the boards and redirected it around Karlsson’s leg to Keller between the circles.

Stenlund tapped in the puck from close range with 9:50 left in the first to give the Mammoth their first lead.

Rakell tied it up on another power play goal at 7:01 of the second, flicking in a wrist shot near the left post.

Utah surged back in front with a pair of goals late in the second. Schmidt reclaimed the lead with 8:16 to go, blasting a slapshot home from near the blue line. Yamamoto tipped in the puck from the low slot with 5:20 left to extend the lead.

Schmaltz’s power play goal made it 5-2 for Utah at 1:36 of the third. Silovs denied his initial shot, but Schmaltz threaded a backhand around the goalie’s left leg on second effort.

The Penguins cut the deficit to one late in the third period with goals from Chinakhov and Carlile. Chinakhov found the back of the net at 2:55 of the third. Carlile followed with a score off a wrist shot with 5:05 left.

Up next

Penguins: Host Florida on Thursday.

Mammoth: At Seattle on Thursday.

Steelers coach Mike McCarthy shrugs off foot injury after halftime tent visit in Steelers’ game against the Buccaneers in Tampa

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy talks on the sidelines during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy was able to laugh off an injury after spending halftime of Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the medical tent after his foot was stepped on.

The team’s medical staff and the Steelers overcoming a 13-point, second-half deficit to win 26-19 in overtime made him feel a lot better.

McCarthy limped across the field toward the visiting locker room at Raymond James Stadium before turning and walking slowly to the tent behind Pittsburgh’s bench. He returned to the sideline for the second half with the Steelers trailing 13-3.

“I don’t recommend it,” McCarthy said of his time in the injury tent. “It’s really hot in there.”

McCarthy credited the Steelers’ medical staff for making sure he was able to stay on the sideline and said he was able to communicate with the team from the tent while assistant head coach/secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. handled the duties.

“Joe has head coach responsibilities normally, so they didn’t miss a beat,” McCarthy added.

NFL halftime periods are 13 minutes, which meant that there wasn’t going to be much time for McCarthy to get into the locker room and then get back on the field.

Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that not much happens at halftime, anyway.

“People don’t realize what happens at halftime, I think,” he said. “There’s like a huddle by the coaches in the back and the players … we’re just BS’ing and talking among ourselves about things that happened. Some sandwiches get eaten and bananas. … There’s not a whole lot of stuff that happens at halftime.”

Rodgers said that he received word that McCarthy was in the tent and was happy the coach was good to go for the second half.

“I’m glad he’s OK,” Rodgers added. “He’s from Pittsburgh. He toughed it out.”

The Steelers rallied with 16 points in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 19 before winning in overtime.

Steelers kicker Chris Boswell breaks Steelers franchise record for career field goals

(Credit for Photo: Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell (9) kicks a field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Tampa, FL) Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell now owns the Steelers franchise record for most career field goals. 

Boswell, who is in his 12th NFL season out of Rice University, now has 312 career field goals in a Steelers uniform. 

He kicked a 52-yard field goal right at the end of the first half of the Steelers’ game yesterday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Tampa to tie the previous Steelers franchise record of 309 field goals set by Gary Anderson. 

Boswell broke the record with a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of that same game and made two more field goals before the game ended in overtime. 

Boswell has made 13 field goals out of 17 attempted and is a perfect 12 for 12 on extra points so far this season.

Four of his made field goals this season were distanced at 50 yards or longer.

Brighton Township Bears youth football team officially barred from their league’s 2026 playoffs

(File Photo of a Football)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Brighton Township, PA) The Brighton Township Bears youth football team has now been officially barred from participating in the 2026 playoffs of the Beaver County Youth Football League.

This decision follows a failed attempt by the Bears organization to overturn a league ruling which removed the team from playoff contention.

That suspension occurred after a player reached the age of thirteen years old during the season, which broke age rules set by the league.

The Bears organization informed families of the final ruling via a written notice last week and the statement confirms: “We recognize how deeply disappointing this is for our players, cheerleaders, coaches, and families who have dedicated so much time and effort throughout the season.”

The Bears organization requested that families maintain a respectful demeanor online as well as during any engagements with opposing teams to avoid any further penalties.

NFL: Steelers-Saints game in Paris, France still on despite civil unrest in the French capital

(File Photo: Source for Photo: A firefighter extinguishes a fire during clashes with police a day after a demonstration against rising living costs, joining students’ grievances, in Paris, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)

(PARIS, FRANCE-AP) The game in Paris between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints remains scheduled as planned despite civil unrest in the French capital, the NFL said Sunday.

The teams are set to play next Sunday at Stade de France in what would be the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris, where events are also planned for football fans during the week.

Rioting and looting have taken place during nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools.

“Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” the league said in a statement Sunday.

“We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.”

The Saints were scheduled to arrive in Paris early Monday. The Steelers travel later in the week.

Hundreds of protesters gathered again on Sunday at the Place de la République amid a heavy police presence. Officers used tear gas as tensions flared sporadically in the neighborhood.

Dislodged cobblestones and broken glass littered the area. Looting and damage were also reported in other tourist and shopping districts.

Paris police said 855 people were arrested in the capital region.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday voiced the public’s “anger” and “shame” over the rioting and looting.

Golden Knights rout Penguins 6-2 as Mark Stone nets a goal and records 2 assists

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson celebrates after scoring against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mark Stone had a goal and two assists, and the Vegas Golden Knights extended their strong start by romping past the slumping Pittsburgh Penguins 6-2 on Saturday night.

The Golden Knights are 8-2 for the third time in franchise history. Their other such starts ended in trips to the Stanley Cup Final — in 2018 under coach Gerard Gallant and in 2023 under Bruce Cassidy.

The loss continued a rough four-game trip for the Penguins, who are 0-3 and have been outscored 16-7.

The scoring was spread around for the Golden Knights. Rookie forward Trevor Connelly had a goal and an assist, and defensemen Rasmus Andersson, Noah Hanifin and Shea Theodore also found the back of the net. So did Brett Howden, who was awarded an empty-net goal after he was pulled down. Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel, playing in his 700th game, each totaled two assists.

Adin Hill improved to 4-0 by stopping 22 shots. He has allowed 2.25 goals per game and carries a .906 save percentage.

Sidney Crosby scored for the Penguins, giving him 657 for his career to break a tie with Brendan Shanahan for 14th in NHL history. Ville Koivunen had the other goal for the Penguins, and Tommy Novak produced assists on both.

Sergei Murashov made 13 saves on 18 shots.

The Golden Knights wasted little time taking control. Andersson and Hanifin scored in the first 4:02, with Eichel providing the primary assists with cross-ice passes. Stone made it 3-0 with 2:14 left.

Goals by Connelly and Theodore to sandwich Crosby’s put Vegas up 5-1 entering the second intermission.

Up next

Penguins: Visit Utah on Monday night.

Golden Knights: Host Tampa Bay on Tuesday night.

Nathan MacKinnon has goal and 3 assists, Artturi Lehkonen scores twice as Avalanche beat Penguins 5-2

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Colorado Avalanche left wing Artturi Lehkonen is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Oct. 16, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Nathan MacKinnon had three assists and a power-play goal, Artturi Lehkonen scored twice and the Colorado Avalanche rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Friday night.

T.J. Hughes scored his first NHL goal, while Mackenzie Blackwood settled in after a shaky start to stop 29 shots.

Evgeni Malkin and Bryan Rust gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead after scoring 29 seconds apart midway through the first period. The Avalanche erupted for five straight tallies, including three in the second period.

Colorado finished 1 of 4 on the power play in the Avalanche debut of assistant coach Brett McLean. He’s in charge of the unit after Dave Hakstol left to take over as head coach of the men’s hockey program at Arizona State.

Lehkonen’s second goal tied it 25 seconds into the second period. Captain Gabriel Landeskog had a goal nearly four minutes later for his 83rd career go-ahead score. He’s tied with Mikko Rantanen for sixth-most in Avalanche history. Hall of Famer Joe Sakic tops the list with 210.

Hughes got free down low and poked in a pass from MacKinnon. He was hugged by Cale Makar and then playfully squirted with water by Landeskog as Hughes made his way past the bench.

Sidney Crosby notched his 1,110th career assist to move into sole possession of seventh place in NHL history. He’s also one assist shy of matching Ray Bourque (1,111 with Boston) for the most in league history with a one franchise.

MacKinnon improved to 12-6-3 when playing against Crosby, his good buddy from Nova Scotia. MacKinnon was awarded a penalty shot, but was stopped by Arturs Silovs.

UP NEXT

Penguins: At Vegas on Saturday night.

Avalanche: Two-game road swing starting Monday night at Philadelphia.

Golden Beavers and Bulldogs battle through the rain in Industry

Story by Keith Walsh – Beaver County Radio. Published October 17, 2026 12:53 A.M.

(Industry, Pa) When it rains the Golden beavers score and score. That was the theme of the night in a game that was hard fought on both ends of the field.

Early on, penalties on both teams were going back and forth.

Karter Brown was under center for the Bulldogs although the slippery ball was a challenge for both teams. Freedom managed to get down into Western Beaver’s red zone and a series of penalties had them going forward and backwards ending up on their 20 yard line, having to settle for a Nick Kessler thirty two yard field goal for three.

Western Beaver, first play, Pratt goes 10 yards, next Kyle Spiker makes a stop for no gain. The next play Jeremiah Pratt fakes a hand off and gets down to the Bulldogg 41.

The Freedom line makes another big stop but the next play Pratt goes out around the end for forty yards to give the Golden Beavers a 6 to 3 lead.

The next series Freedom starts at the 34 yard line. Bailey takes a handoff from Brown for 10 yards but the drive stalls. It wasn’t long before Freedom got the ball again and now the time was getting short because the clock was not stopping much in a soggy field.

Kaiden Bailey goes for 12 yards, then for 8 more on a wet night and Karter Brown with a lot of misshandled balls, Brown hands off again to Bailey fight up the middle for 25 yards. Freedom runs again for a short gain and calls a time out with 54 seconds on the clock left in the half. They stalled out and turned over to Western Beaver and Pratt made some big runs to quickly make it down to the 2 yard line where a host of Bulldogs drug him to the ground.

Half-time score, Freedom 3 Western Beaver 6.

After a steller performance by the Brighton Music Center band of the week, the home teams Golden Beavers band did what they could do in very challenging eviroment.

The football teams took the field and Western Beavers Landon Salle took the kickoff 60 yards down to the 20 yard line and handed to him one more time and he carries it into the endzone.

Jeremiah Pratt runs the 2 points in, 14 to 3 Golden Beavers.

On the kickoff it goes out of bounds. Feedom takes over at the 35.

The Bulldogs stay on the ground with Bailey up the middle for a first down, then Bailey breaks up the middle down to the Beavers 38 and the next play they fumble the ball and Western Beaver takes over.

Pratt goes outside for 4 yards, Mason O’ Donnell stops Landon Sallie for 3 yards then a holding call puts Western back. Pratt then runs it down to the 25 then Sallie gets it down to the 12 then another penalty backs the Beaver back up to the 23.

Pratt gets caught in his own back field but was able to break several tackles but a big play by Mason O’ Donnell causes Pratt to fumble the ball.

First play, Karter Brown completes a nice pass to Mason O’ Donnell for 18 yards, but Feedom stalled out on the 23 and punts.

14 to 3 Western on top.

In the fourth, Karter Brown threw a nice spiraling ball to his receiver who got interfered with trying to get to the ball, they end up fourth and inches at the 24 but the slippery field kept them from picking up the first down.

Western Beavers next set of downs they hike the ball to Pratt, burst off left tackle for a TD.

20 WB to Freedom 3.

Freedom goes 3 and out then Western Beavers Nathan Vula takes a direct snap and sprints 55 yards for TD.

Karter Brown hits Landon Palka for a first down then Karter Brown passes to Landon Palka down to the 30 and Karter Brown takes it himself down to the 15. Then Mason O’ Donnell ran it down to the 1 yard line, next O’ Donnell is in for the touchdown.

Final score: Western Beaver 26 Freedom 10.