(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – Pittsburgh Penguins center Ben Kindel plays in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals, Oct. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pa. (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel is back in Pittsburgh and recovering after collapsing on the team’s flight back from Utah earlier this week.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said Thursday that the 19-year-old Kindel fell ill about 10 minutes after the club left Salt Lake City on Tuesday. Team medical personnel attended to him immediately, and Kindel quickly regained consciousness.

The plane turned back to the airport for an emergency landing, and Kindel was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for observation before being released on Wednesday.

Kindel had a vasovagal episode, which is marked by a sharp drop in heart rate and blood pressure, according to Dubas. Kindel was undergoing further testing in an effort to determine the cause at the team complex on Thursday. Dubas said Kindel had no prior history of collapsing.

Dubas, who met with Kindel on Thursday morning, described the teenager as “very clearly shaken.”

The Penguins placed the 2025 first-round pick on injured reserve, and while there is no timetable for his return, Dubas added the club is optimistic Kindel could be cleared to work out by the end of the weekend, pending test results.

“We will obviously follow very strict guidelines to ensure a safe return to training and play for Ben,” Dubas said. “That’s our primary goal and paramount to his future and health, so that’s how we will handle it.”

Kindel has two points and two assists in nine games this season for Pittsburgh. He played nearly 19 minutes during a loss to Utah on Monday night.

The Penguins cancelled practice on Wednesday while the team provided off-ice resources for the players. The club was back at practice for a morning skate Thursday ahead of a visit by the Florida Panthers at PPG Paints Arena.

“Whether you like it or not, the show goes on tonight,” Dubas said. “And so we have to gear up and get ready for that. And that’s the number one: take care of our people. And the number two: put them in a place to perform.”

Pittsburgh, which also placed forward Bryan Rust on injured reserve with an undisclosed issue, has dropped four straight games and sits at next-to-last in the Eastern Conference.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ben Kindel (81) is defended by Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Salt Lake City, UT) Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel is recovering after suffering a medical episode yesterday on the team’s flight from Salt Lake City, Utah.

Multiple reporters in Pittsburgh have recently indicated that the nineteen-year-old Kindel suffered a seizure during the flight.

According to the Penguins, Kindel is conscious, alert and stable.

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Pittsburgh Penguins’ Ben Kindel (81) is defended by Winnipeg Jets’ Josh Morrissey (44) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Pittsburgh Penguins forward Ben Kindel was being evaluated at a Salt Lake City hospital on Tuesday after having a medical emergency on the team’s flight home from a four-game trip.

The club said the 19-year-old Kindel had an unspecified issue shortly after the team’s plane took off from the Salt Lake City airport on Tuesday.

The plane returned to the airport while Kindel was tended to on the flight by the team’s medical staff. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Utah hospital.

The team said Kindel was conscious, alert and stable.

Kindel, in his second season with the Penguins after being selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2025 draft, has two goals and two assists in nine games. He played 18 minutes, 53 seconds in a 5-4 loss to Utah on Monday night.

(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).

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.