Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says he is “refusing to acknowledge” whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields will start at quarterback against the New York Giants, but Wilson will take first team snaps. Tomlin says he wants both QBs ready to play Monday night.
The coach liked the poise Wilson showed when the Steelers started slowly on Sunday against the Jets.
The Steelers will open practices for Monday night at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex today and Tomlin says they’ll handle the extra day of preparation this week by simply repeating their normal Friday routine on Saturday.
Tomlin says the NFL office told him that Minkah Fitzpatrick’s block of a Jets’ extra point kick attempt on Sunday was legal and should not have drawn a penalty flag for leveraging. The Jets used the second chance to go for a two-point conversion and made good on it. Tomlin’s reaction yesterday was, “…that’s life. None of us are perfect.”
Tomlin says the Steelers are getting better at playing home games, where the noise from fans who are hoping to disrupt the opposing offense can also interfere with the defense, especially the secondary.
The Steelers are one of the NFL’s best second-half teams, pitching a shutout in the final two quarters against the Jets. Tomlin says it’s no accident.
Montravius Adams will miss Monday’s game with a knee injury. Special teams ace Tyler Matakevich could return from injured reserve this week and running back Cordarelle Patterson could be back too. Damontae Kazee is expected to be a full practice participant today and return to the secondary rotation. Tomlin said cornerback Donte Jackson’s shoulder injury is not serious and he will likely start against the Giants, but he had no updates on linebacker Nick Herbig or center Zach Frazier.
Former Steelers greats L.C. Greenwood and Andy Russell did not make the cut in the voting for the second round of the NFL Hall of Fame Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee. The group chose 25 candidates from the list of those who played before 2000. They will cut it to nine next month and then to three finalists.
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