Steelers players returned to practice yesterday and it was their first workout since the firing of offensive coordinator Matt Canada on Tuesday. To a man, they blamed themselves for their performance and vowed to keep working to get their failing offense together.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett said they had a good meeting with new offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner and play caller Mike Sullivan, but the players are the ones to have to make the offense work.
Pickett says they talked about what they might do differently with new leadership, but don’t expect big changes heading into this week against Cincinnati.
Wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who has been out of sync with Pickett in the last couple of games, says the coordinator was not the problem.
Tight end Pat Freiermuth is looking forward to seeing how Mike Sullivan calls a game.
The Steelers yesterday signed linebacker Blake Martinez to the active roster, and he said he was as surprised as anyone to end up in Pittsburgh. Martinez led the NFL in tackles in 2017 but injuries and business developments led to his retirement in the middle of last season, when he played for the Raiders. He signed with Carolina two weeks ago and joined their practice squad, but NFL rules permit a player to sign with another team if it’s to their active roster, so now he’s a Steeler.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick hasn’t played in three weeks because of a hamstring injury and he missed practice yesterday. Wide receiver George Pickens was also out with a shin injury. Defensive lineman Montravious Adams returned to practice in a limited capacity, and linebacker Nick Herbig and defensive back James Pierre were limited.
NFL
Thanksgiving Day brings three games on the NFL schedule. The Detroit Lions begin the day against the Green Bay Packers, who will be playing without tight end Luke Musgrave. He was placed on injured reserve yesterday with a lacerated kidney.
The second game features Washington at Dallas. Then tonight, it’s San Francisco at Seattle. Tomorrow, it’s the first-ever Black Friday game in NFL history, with Jets host the Dolphins in Jersey.
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