PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For the second straight game, the Steelers lost a middle linebacker for the year. Najee Harris points to running game MVP while Broderick Jones has high expectations. Plus, Mike Tomlin points out a player who doesn’t get enough credit.
LB out
First reported by Athletic Steelers beat reporter and 93.7 The Fan Steelers Insider Mark Kaboly, linebacker Kwon Alexander is out for the rest of the season with a torn Achilles tendon. The injury happened in the first quarter and Elandon Roberts became the linebacker with the ‘green dot’, meaning he relays plays from the sidelines.
Alexander had the game-sealing interception in the Titans game and was signed early in training camp to add depth to the middle linebacker position. Tomlin referred to their middle linebacker group as having a luxury of three starters for two positions. Now the Steelers will have only Roberts as an experienced NFL veteran currently on the roster after losing Cole Holcomb last Thursday.
Steelers elevated Tariq Carpenter from the practice squad before the game and have Mykal Walker currently on the practice squad. Walker played for the Falcons for three seasons with 107 tackles last year.
Run game
The Steelers ground game eclipsed its season-best of 166 yards set last week with 205 on Sunday. Jaylen Warren with his first NFL 100-yard game (101 yards) and Najee Harris had 82 yards and both scored a touchdown.
“The MVP of the game is the O-line,” Harris said. “For them to turn it around, for all of us to turn it around, we are scoring on the first drive two weeks in a row. It’s all O-line.”
“I think some continuity with the guys up front, getting a chance to have some more reps together,” said quarterback Kenny Pickett. “You know, having a positive game, having another opportunity to stack another positive game, which they did, and 22 and 30 ran great. So, you know, I think it was a kind of a mix of the line and the backs getting a good rhythm.”
Tackle Broderick Jones started in both of those games and his expectations go back to success at Georgia.
“I just know with the group we got up front and the running backs we have behind us,” Jones said. “There is no way we shouldn’t be able to get 200-plus every game.”
Sideline Matt
A second consecutive game with multiple offensive touchdowns with offensive coordinator Matt Canada on the sidelines. It apparently is becoming commonplace now for the Steelers.
“I think I scored a touchdown and I was getting high-fives from everybody and he hugged me,” Harris said. “I forgot he was even on the sidelines. Its’s cool having Matt Canada down there.”
Automatic Boz
Chris Boswell made field goals of 42, 49 and 35 yards against the Packers. He is 17 of 18 for the season with the only miss being 61 yards and that was after he made a 56-yard field goal and it was negated by a penalty.
“It’s automatic,” Tomlin said. “You know, I’ve been really blessed here in the time that I’ve been here. I’ve been here a long time and essentially have had three kickers, and so that continuity, man, that ability to deliver with a high level of consistency is—we don’t talk about it enough, but rest assured, it’s appreciated.”
Up Next
Steelers play two straight road games in Ohio. It begins Sunday in Cleveland and then the following Sunday in Cincinnati.