Mike Tomlin is anticipating the return of Alex Highsmith, Joey Porter Jr., and Jaylen Warren to the Steelers lineup against the Browns on Sunday, and he is even hoping that Jaylen Ramsey and Calvin Austin III will be able to play, even though they were originally projected to miss multiple games after being injured against the Vikings before the bye week.
Tomlin held his weekly media event yesterday, and said his sole focus is on the Browns, not on the fact that the Steelers will play two AFC North rivals in five days…Cleveland on Sunday and Cincinnati on Thursday, October 16th.
Tomlin says Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel is not a typical rookie. He started 64 games in college, the most by any quarterback ever. He’s almost 25 years old and he played six years of college football.
Tomlin says the Steelers, as always, will have to contend with Browns’ superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett.
Broderick Jones will have the assignment of blocking Garrett and the coach says he’ll get help with the extra tight end.
Tomlin wants the Steelers’ running game to assert itself against one of the better defenses in the NFL, and he says it starts at the line of scrimmage.
Tomlin says AFC North football is especially enjoyable for him, and a lot of it has to do with the strategy of playing against a familiar opponent.
Jon Rhattigan’s tenure with the Steelers was short. The veteran linebacker signed with the Steelers September 3rd and played one game, in Week Two against Seattle. Yesterday, the Raiders “raided” the Steelers practice squad and signed Rhattigan to their active roster.
The Steelers had released linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley from the practice squad earlier in the day, adding running back/returner Raheem Blackshear. They also worked out edge rusher K.J. Henry, whose been with five NFL teams since being drafted by Washington in 2023.
NFL
The Browns yesterday traded quarterback Joe Flacco and a sixth round draft pick to the Bengals in exchange for a fifth round draft choice.
The Ravens traded edge rusher Odafe Oweh and a seventh round choice to the Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman and a fifth round choice.
