Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he and his staff spent the team’s bye week assessing the first five games of the year and also taking a look “globally” at the trends that have emerged in the first quarter of the season.
At his weekly news conference, Tomlin says the Steelers need work in all three aspects of the game…offense, defense, and special teams. He acknowledges that the offense has not been good, and says they are working on it.
The offense will be challenged this week. The Steelers play the Rams Sunday in Los Angeles and the coach says LA has a talented defense, starting with three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
With Diontae Johnson returning to the lineup this week after spending the last four games on injured reserve, Tomlin is hoping Johnson’s particular skills will help Kenny Pickett settle into a good passing routine.
The coach stopped short of saying that tackle Dan Moore will start on Sunday as he returns from a knee injury. Tomlin says he will wait to see the quality of work that Moore is able to do in practice this week.
NFL Network’s Tom Pellisero reports that the Steelers will either trade or release veteran defensive back Desmond King today and will add defensive back Darius Rush, who’s currently on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad. He was the Colts’ fifth round draft choice this year out of South Carolina.
After a welcome-back workout on Monday and a day off yesterday, the Steelers begin preparation for Sunday’s game today.
The Rams are making moves to bolster their running back room following a slew of injuries. They elevated Royce Freeman from the practice squad to the active roster and signed both Darrell Henderson and Myles Gaskin yesterday. Starting running back Kyren Williams and backup Ronnie Rivers were injured in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals.
