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Pittsburgh Steelers impending free-agent LB Bud Dupree (knee) said he is ahead of schedule in his recovery and will be ready for the start of training camp.
Link to storyBud Dupree player page

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Anthony McFarland could be a beneficiary of Matt Canada's promotion to offensive coordinator because of his success under Canada during their time at the University of Maryland, according to Mark Kaboly of The Athletic.
Footballguys view: McFarland can be a good change-of-pace back in this league. He wasn't used much in his rookie season in 2020, but should be in line for a larger role in 2021. James Conner should move on in free agency, so McFarland and Benny Snell will compete to establish a pecking order in training camp. |

Updating previous reports, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Matt Canada was named as the team's offensive coordinator Monday, Jan. 25.
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Updating a previous report, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Matt Canada is reportedly finalizing a deal with the team to become the offensive coordinator Monday, Jan. 25.
Footballguys view: Canada has worked in the college ranks for years and will get a larger role with the Steelers. His fresh perspective could help jump-start the Steelers offense. Canada will be working with an aging Ben Roethlisberger, but having young wide receivers like Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and James Washington should help. |

Former Los Angeles Chargers tight ends coach Alfredo Roberts was hired for the same role with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, Jan. 25.
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Pittsburgh Steelers TE Vance McDonald announced his retirement Friday, Jan. 22. McDonald, 30, had 181 receptions for 2,036 yards and 15 touchdowns in his career.
Footballguys view: McDonald was a second-round pick out of Rice for the 49ers in the 2013 NFL draft. He had an athletic profile but injuries and inconsistencies kept him from truly playing up to his potential as a pro. The Steelers save around $5 million in cap space with McDonald hanging up his cleats. |
Vance McDonald player page

Free-agent OT Aviante Collins (Vikings) recently met with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Free agent DB Stephen Denmark (Browns) and TEs Charles Jones (Steelers) and Dax Raymond (Packers) on Thursday, Jan. 21, signed Reserve/Future contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Link to storyDax Raymond player page

Updating a previous report, free-agent QB Dwayne Haskins (Washington Football Team) on Thursday, Jan. 21, agreed to a one-year contract offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers, per a source.
Footballguys view: The Steelers take a chance on the former first-round pick here. Haskins was Washington's top pick in the 2019 NFL draft, but he failed to impress while starting 13 games over two seasons. He'll try to get his career back on track but Haskins is no lock for the 53-man roster. The Steelers need to find some young quarterback to groom behind Ben Roethlisberger and Haskins could be that guy. |
Dwayne Haskins player page

Former Cincinnati Bengals head coach Hue Jackson interviewed for the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive coordinator opening this week.
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Free-agent QB Dwayne Haskins (Football Team) visited the Pittsburgh Steelers Thursday, Jan. 21.
Link to storyDwayne Haskins player page

The Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to let WR JuJu Smith-Schuster 'walk' in free agency, in the opinion of ESPN's Brooke Pryor, who notes the team's cap issues and presence of WRs Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and James Washington on the roster.
Footballguys view: That has been the writing on the wall for quite some time. Smith-Schuster did not elevate his game as the no.1 wide receiver for the Steelers to the expected levels. There have been distractions with him in terms of social networking snafus (nothing sinister) and the team is stacked at the WR position. It's safe to say he'll likely be playing elsewhere in the 2021 season. |
JuJu Smith-Schuster player page

Detroit Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley is scheduled to interview for the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, Jan. 21.
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Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad WR Deon Cain, QB Devlin Hodges, TE Charles Jones, RB Wendell Smallwood and PK Matthew Wright had their contracts expire Monday, Jan. 18.
Link to storyWendell Smallwood player page
Deon Cain player page

Pittsburgh Steelers CB Joe Haden was activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 on Monday, Jan. 18.
Link to storyJoe Haden player page

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is eliciting optimism within the organization that he'll return for an 18th season in 2021, according to a report Saturday, Jan. 16.
Footballguys view: For years, it seemed like Roethlisberger was toying with the idea of retiring even though he still had something left in the tank. Now, when it seems like Roethlisberger is washed up, he wants to stick around. The Steelers will roll forward with Roethlisberger as their starter in 2021 but they seriously need to make a plan for life without him in the near future. Mason Rudolph is signed through the 2021 season but he's a below-average backup with no future to be a starter for the Steelers. |
Ben Roethlisberger player page

Free-agent RB Trey Edmunds and OT Jarron Jones signed Reserve/Future contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday, Jan. 15.
Link to storyTrey Edmunds player page

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler, whose contract is set to expire at the end of February, has reportedly been told he will be retained by the team, according to a source.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Kevin Rader, Anthony Johnson, Cody White, Anthony Coyle, Brandon Walton, John Leglue, Calvin Taylor, Demarcus Christmas, Tegray Scales, John Battle, Trevor Williams, Christian Kuntz and Corliss Waitman signed Reserve/Future contracts with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, Jan. 14.
Link to storyTrevor Williams player page
Anthony Johnson player page

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Shaun Sarrett and defensive backs coach Tom Bradley won't have their contracts renewed, the team confirmed Thursday, Jan. 14, while also announcing that tight ends coach James Daniel is retiring.
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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner won't return in 2021.
Footballguys view: Fichtner was promoted from quarterbacks coach to OC back in 2018, replacing the ever-grouchy Todd Haley. He worked well with Roethlisberger that year but in 2019 the veteran quarterback was hurt and in 2020 it just looked like Roethlisberger was done. The Steelers offense will look different in 2021 and Fichtner won't have a problem finding a new gig, likely as a QB coach, somewhere else. |

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger's future with the team is unknown as he heads into the final year of his contract at a cap hit of $41.25 million. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday, Jan. 13, there's a decent chance Roethlisberger is back in 2021. 'I don't have a clear assessment of the overall depth of the cap ramifications, but I think it's reasonable to assume there's a chance he'll be back, certainly,' Tomlin said. Releasing Roethlisberger would leave Pittsburgh with $22.25 million in dead cap, according to Spotrac.
Footballguys view: For years it seemed like Roethlisberger was toying around with the idea of retiring. Now that his game looks shot, Roethlisberger is excited to stick around with the Steelers. The offense must run the ball effectively and the defense must play a swarming style to win games with a nearly-washed up veteran quarterback. |
Ben Roethlisberger player page

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Eric Ebron (illness) tested positive for COVID-19 Monday, Jan. 11. Ebron was on the Reserve/COVID-19 list previously as a close contact.
Link to storyEric Ebron player page

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Eric Ebron reportedly tested positive for coronavirus Tuesday, Jan. 12.
Link to storyEric Ebron player page

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Trey Edmunds was waived Tuesday, Jan. 12.
Link to storyTrey Edmunds player page

Updating previous reports, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Alex Highsmith (ankle) sustained a high ankle sprain against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Jan. 10, and did not return.
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Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger completed 47-of-68 passes for 501 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions in the AFC wild-card game loss against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Jan. 10. RB James Conner rushed 11 times for 37 yards and a touchdown while adding five receptions for 30 yards on his five targets. RB Benny Snell rushed twice for 13 yards with one grab for four yards. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster ended up with game highs of 13 receptions, 157 yards and 19 targets with one touchdown, with WR Diontae Johnson also chiming in with 11 grabs for 117 yards on 16 targets. WR Chase Claypool also finished up with five grabs, 59 yards and two scores on seven targets, with WR James Washington adding five catches and 72 yards on six targets with TE Eric Ebron posting seven receptions, 62 yards and a score on 10 targets.
Link to storyBen Roethlisberger player page
Eric Ebron player page
JuJu Smith-Schuster player page
James Conner player page
James Washington player page
Benny Snell player page
Diontae Johnson player page

Updating a previous report, Pittsburgh Steelers LB Alex Highsmith (ankle) is doubtful to return to the AFC wild-card game against the Cleveland Browns due to an ankle injury.
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Pittsburgh Steelers CB Mike Hilton (ankle) left the AFC wild-card game against the Cleveland Browns in the second half due to an ankle injury and he is questionable to return.
Link to storyMike Hilton player page

Pittsburgh Steelers LB Alex Highsmith (leg) limped off in the second quarter of the AFC wild-card game against the Cleveland Browns due to an apparent lower leg injury.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers have declared RB Anthony McFarland, S Antoine Brooks Jr., OG Danny Isidora, LB Jayrone Elliott, QB Joshua Dobbs and DL Isaiah Buggs inactive for Wild Card Weekend.
Link to storyJayrone Elliott player page

Pittsburgh Steelers G Matt Feiler and LB Robert Spillane on Saturday, Jan. 9, were activated to the active roster from the Reserve/Injured list while TE Kevin Rader was elevated to the roster from the practice squad. Also Saturday, LB Tegray Scales was placed on waivers.
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Free-agent LB Christian Kuntz (Steelers) met with the Pittsburgh Steelers Friday, Jan. 8.
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Pittsburgh Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) fully participated in practice Friday, Jan. 8, and is not on the injury report for the Wild Card playoff game.
Link to storyJuJu Smith-Schuster player page

Pittsburgh Steelers PK Chris Boswell (groin) was limited in practice Friday, Jan. 8, but was removed from the injury report for the AFC Wild Card game against the Cleveland Browns. CB Steven Nelson (knee), S Terrell Edmunds (shoulder), DE Tyson Alualu (ankle), LB Vince Williams (quad), WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and DE Isaiah Buggs (illness) practiced in full Friday and also no longer appear on the injury report.
Link to storyTyson Alualu player page
Vince Williams player page
Chris Boswell player page
Steven Nelson player page
JuJu Smith-Schuster player page
Terrell Edmunds player page

Pittsburgh Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) was added to the injury report and did not participate in practice Thursday, Jan. 7.
Footballguys view: Not a great sign but it doesn't mean Smith-Schuster won't play on Sunday against the Browns. Let's see if he can practice on a limited basis on Friday. |
JuJu Smith-Schuster player page

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Eric Ebron and DE Cassius Marsh were activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Jan. 7.
Link to storyEric Ebron player page
Cassius Marsh player page

Pittsburgh Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and DE Isaiah Buggs (illness) were added to the injury report and did not practice Thursday, Jan. 7. PK Chris Boswell (groin), CB Steven Nelson (knee), S Terrell Edmunds (shoulder), DE Tyson Alualu (ankle) and LB Vince Williams (quad) practiced in full.
Link to storyTyson Alualu player page
Vince Williams player page
Chris Boswell player page
Steven Nelson player page
JuJu Smith-Schuster player page
Terrell Edmunds player page

Pittsburgh Steelers OT Matt Feiler (pectoral) and LB Robert Spillane (knee) were designated to return from the Reserve/Injured list Wednesday, Jan. 6.
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Free-agent CB Trevor Williams was signed to the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad Wednesday, Jan. 6. The team also released LB Christian Kuntz from the practice squad.
Link to storyTrevor Williams player page

Pittsburgh Steelers LB Vince Williams (quadriceps) and DE Tyson Alualu (ankle) did not participate in practice Wednesday, Jan. 6. PK Chris Boswell (groin) and CB Steven Nelson (knee) were limited during practice. S Terrell Edmunds (shoulder) fully participated in practice.
Link to storyTyson Alualu player page
Vince Williams player page
Chris Boswell player page
Steven Nelson player page
Terrell Edmunds player page

Pittsburgh Steelers OG Matt Feiler (pectoral) and LB Robert Spillane (knee) will participate in practice Wednesday, Jan. 6. Both players are currently on the Reserve/Injured list but could be activated in time for the Wild Card playoff game.
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Pittsburgh Steelers WR Deon Cain, TE Kevin Rader, RB Wendell Smallwood and PK Matthew Wright were selected as protected practice squad players for the Wild Card round Tuesday, Jan. 5.
Link to storyWendell Smallwood player page
Deon Cain player page

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Joshua Dobbs could be activated for the AFC Wild Card game this week, according to comments made by head coach Mike Tomlin, who insinuated Dobbs could serve as the backup quarterback against the Cleveland Browns instead of Mason Rudolph.
Footballguys view: The Steelers don't have a great backup in Rudolph. It's no surprise they would be considering a move to Dobbs as the no.2 behind Ben Roethlisberger. |
Mason Rudolph player page

Free-agent CB Trevor Williams (Jaguars) recently worked out for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Link to storyTrevor Williams player page

Pittsburgh Steelers QB Mason Rudolph went 22-for-39 for 315 yards, two touchdowns and one interception against the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. RB James Conner rushed for 37 yards on nine carries and caught five passes for 25 yards during the game. WR Chase Claypool caught five passes for 101 yards and one touchdown on 11 targets, WR Diontae Johnson caught three passes for 96 yards on four targets and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster caught six passes for 65 yards and one touchdown on eight targets.
Footballguys view: Rudolph wasn't that efficient, but he made some big downfield throws. The Steelers may have to consider him as one of the options to start next year if Ben Roethlisberger retires. Claypool finishes with nine scores to cap a rookie regular season that couldn't have gone much better. The Steelers will face the Browns again in the divisional round next week. |
JuJu Smith-Schuster player page
James Conner player page
Mason Rudolph player page
Diontae Johnson player page

The Pittsburgh Steelers have declared PK Chris Boswell, LB T.J. Watt, SS Terrell Edmunds, QB Ben Roethlisberger, C Maurkice Pouncey and DL Cameron Heyward inactive for Week 17.
Footballguys view: Mason Rudolph will get the start at quarterback and a lot of Steelers starters could sit after the first few series. |
Ben Roethlisberger player page
Cameron Heyward player page
Chris Boswell player page
T.J. Watt player page
Terrell Edmunds player page

Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad OT Anthony Coyle, WR Deon Cain, TE Kevin Rader and PK Matthew Wright were added to the active roster Saturday, Jan. 2, and will be available for the Week 17 game.
Link to storyDeon Cain player page

Pittsburgh Steelers CB Joe Haden and LB Cassius Marsh on Saturday, Jan. 2, were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.
Link to storyJoe Haden player page
Cassius Marsh player page

Pittsburgh Steelers TE Eric Ebron on Saturday, Jan. 2, was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list and will miss the regular-season finale Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Footballguys view: Ebron was deemed a high-risk, close contact and that's why he's on the list. The Steelers are hopefully not dealing with a COVID outbreak as they head into the postseason. In Week 17, many starters are resting in a meaningless game against the Browns. |
Eric Ebron player page