Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has a lot on his mind this week as he gets his team ready for Sunday’s AFC playoff game against Buffalo. His biggest concern is finding a way to defend against Bills quarterback Josh Allen without his star linebacker, TJ Watt.
At his weekly media session yesterday, Tomlin said he’s been plugging in replacements for injured players a lot this season, but this time is different.
Tomlin says things will amp up for the Steelers more and more as Sunday approaches.
The coach says the Steelers will benefit from their push to make the playoffs over the final weeks of the regular season.
Tomlin says the Bills’ Josh Allen has a very impressive blend of run and pass skills.
Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback on Sunday. Tomlin says he is sticking with the hot hand in Rudolph, who has won three games in a row to help propel the Steelers into the playoffs. Tomlin stopped short of saying that safety Damontae Kazee will suit up on Sunday after his return from a league suspension for repeated illegal hits on opponents’ receivers. He said he’ll evaluate Kazee’s conditioning level and the “division of labor” in practice this week. For Kazee to play on Sunday, the Steelers will have to make a roster move today.
Tomlin also said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and Elandon Roberts will be limited when the Steelers open practice today for Sunday’s game. Fitzpatrick missed the last three games with a knee injury. Roberts played last week despite a pectoral muscle injury.
The Steelers signed outside linebacker David Perales to their practice squad yesterday and released safety Nate Meadors. They also cut quarterback Trace McSorley.
NFL
The Tennessee Titans fired head coach Mike Vrabel yesterday, although team owner Amy Adams Strunk told the media they considered trading the 48-year-old to another team. The former Steelers and Patriots linebacker was 55-and-45 in Tennessee and had a 2-and-3 postseason record. The Titans were 6-and-11 this season. The trade talk from Adams Strunk fueled rumors that Vrabel could be headed to New England to replace Bill Belicheck.
