The Steelers head into Week 8 (Nov 1, 2026) with a 5-2 record and a showdown against the Browns for AFC North supremacy. Key injuries loom: WR Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Roman Wilson are on IR after foot and finger injuries, respectively, while DT Derrick Harmon (foot) and DT Sebastian Joseph-Day (triceps) also sit out. For Sunday’s game, CB Brandin Echols and DB Doneiko Slaughter are ruled out with hamstrings, and WR Ben Skowronek is questionable with a calf strain. The thin receiver corps makes Skowronek’s health crucial as Pittsburgh tries to maintain its offensive flow.
Pittsburgh is separating itself from the rest of the league, earning the highest run defense grade from Pro Football Focus through the 2026 season.
The Steelers are making adjustments ahead of Sunday's matchup with Cleveland, with multiple injuries creating questions about their available personnel.
Through the Steelers' first seven games of the 2026 season, third‑year center Zach Frazier has emerged as a top‑tier lineman, earning praise from former star Troy Fautenu. Frazier’s improved technique and consistency anchor Pittsburgh’s offensive line, contributing to the team’s early success. The article highlights his rise to stardom, key performances, and how his play compares with other NFL centers, cementing his reputation as possibly the league’s best at his position.
This week’s NFL Blue Book radio roundup covers three hot topics: Arch Manning’s future and the increasingly tangled 2027 quarterback draft class discussed with Unsportsmanlike Conduct in Omaha; a review of the first 24 games under Titans GM Mike Borgonzi with Robby & Rexrode in Nashville; and a Browns‑Steelers preview featuring Jeffery Simmons’ surprise play and the Browns’ trade‑deadline outlook with Baskin and Phelps in Cleveland. Links to each segment’s YouTube clips are included.
The Browns are reportedly seeking a pass rusher and a blocking tight end after a 5-2 start, according to Albert Breer. Meanwhile, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, sidelined by a high‑ankle sprain for three games, is expected back for Week 8, with teammate Zay Flowers saying his return lifts team morale and could spark a turnaround after a Week 7 loss to the Bengals. In Pittsburgh, safety DeShon Elliott recounts his comeback from a season‑ending torn hamstring suffered in October 2025, noting a successful return in Week 7 after a stint on IR and emphasizing his hard work and recovery.
In episode 2,067 of The Terrible Take, released on October 31, 2026, the Steelers Depot crew—Alex Kozora, Dave Bryan, Josh Carney, Ross McCorkle, Melanie Friedlander, and Joe Clark— delivers a quick 1‑3 minute weekday recap at 5 PM EST. Listeners get the hosts’ unfiltered thoughts on the latest Steelers news and NFL happenings, presented in a bite‑size format that mirrors The Terrible Podcast. This episode promises fast‑paced commentary for fans who want a daily pulse on the team without a long listening commitment.
Behind the Steel Curtain hosts a Saturday Night Open Thread on Halloween, inviting Steelers fans to discuss the upcoming rematch with the Browns and share game‑day treats, costume stories, and favorite horror media. The post includes five light‑hearted questions about predictions, Halloween traditions, snack preferences, scariest shows, and best decorations, all set to Ray Parker Jr.’s Ghostbusters theme. It’s a community‑focused chat for fans to celebrate the holiday while gearing up for the next matchup.
The Steelers will be without inside linebacker Elandon Roberts for Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns, as he was not elevated from the practice squad before the deadline. Roberts re‑joined Pittsburgh on Oct. 12 after a stint with the Raiders, but will miss another game despite a healthy linebacker corps (Patrick Queen, Payton Wilson, Carson Bruener, Cole Holcomb). The team promoted two wide receivers, Brandon Smith and Brandon Johnson, to cover injuries to Michael Pittman Jr., Roman Wilson, and a questionable Ben Skowronek. Steelers coach Mike McCarthy praised Roberts' veteran grit, but the lineup remains intact.
The Steelers left veteran wideout Marquez Valdes‑Scantling on the practice squad for Week 8, so he will miss Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. Re‑signed last Tuesday after a brief stint with the Chargers, Valdes‑Scantling has only five games of familiarity with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy, but the injuries to Roman Wilson, Ben Skowronek and Michael Pittman Jr. left the depth chart thin. Instead, practice‑squad receivers Brandon Johnson (elevated for a third time) and Brandon Smith (promoted to the 53‑man roster) will suit up. Valdes‑Scantling, 31, logged 10 catches for 80 yards and one TD last season and remains eager to play alongside Rodgers, who praised his work ethic this week.
The Steelers Now post, updated Oct. 22, breaks down the Pittsburgh Steelers’ two‑deep depth chart for Week 7’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Paris. Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers starts, with Mason Rudolph as the primary backup and third‑string Drew Allar listed for emergencies. The backfield features RB Jaylen Warren alongside Rico Dowdle (questionable) and Travis Homer. Wide receivers include DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Isaiah Hodgins, while Ben Skowronek is noted as out. Tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington lead the unit. The defensive roster lists starters like Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Asante Samuel Jr., with injury and status markings (red for injured, maroon for IR/PUP/NFI). The chart combines official data, team sources, and the site’s analysis, highlighting rookies, returning starters, and practice‑squad elevations.
The Steelers unveil their 2026 53‑man roster and practice squad as Mike McCarthy’s first season gets underway. Highlights include veteran QB Mason Rudolph, former Seahawks star WR DK Metcalf, and a surprise signing of veteran QB Aaron Rodgers. Key defensive additions feature former Panthers corner Jalen Ramsey, pass‑rusher T.J. Watt, and linebacker Payton Wilson. Draft picks like OLB Nick Herbig (4th‑round) and TE Darnell Washington add youth, while seasoned contributors such as kicker Chris Boswell and TE Pat Freiermuth round out the core. The list, set on Aug. 30 with practice squad moves on Aug. 31, will evolve throughout the campaign.
The NFL fines Steelers tight end Darnell Washington $14,926 for an unsportsmanlike celebration that displayed the "size of his footballs" after a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in Paris. The league also penalizes Steelers wide receiver Brandon Smith $4,916 for using his helmet in a face-to-face hit on Saints cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., which drew a personal‑foul call. Both fines underline the league’s crackdown on vulgar celebrations and unsafe helmet use.
Steelers wide receiver Brandon Smith was fined $4,916—about 9.4% of his $52,000 game check—for a post‑play altercation with Saints cornerback Marvin Emerson during the Steelers’ 16-10 Week 7 win. The NFL cited unnecessary roughness and a facemask collision after Smith blocked Emerson on a run play. Smith becomes the sixth Steelers player fined this season, joining Payton Wilson, Cole Holcomb, DK Metcalf, Patrick Queen and Darnell Washington. The Steelers have ranked among the league’s most‑fined teams for three straight seasons, spending $749,747 in fines in 2025.
The Steelers host the Browns Sunday at 1:00 PM EST, and the latest projected inactive list for Week 8 is out. Steelers Depot breaks down which Pittsburgh players are likely to miss the game, citing injury updates and roster moves as of October 31, 2026. Fans can see who may sit out and how the lineup could affect the Steelers' chances against Cleveland.
Steelers tight end Darnell Washington receives a $14,926 NFL fine for a vulgar celebration after his second‑quarter touchdown in the Steelers’ 16‑10 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 7 in Paris – the first NFL touchdown scored in France. Washington climbed over cornerback Kool‑Aid McKinstry and displayed the football, prompting the unsportsmanlike‑conduct penalty. He joins four other Steelers fined this season, keeping Pittsburgh among the league’s most‑penalized teams for the third straight year.
The Cleveland Browns get a boost for Sunday’s divisional clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers as starting right tackle Tytus Howard passes the concussion protocol and will suit up, giving the offensive line a full roster for the first time in 23 years against Pittsburgh in the Meadowlands. Cornerback Myles Harden remains questionable with a hamstring issue, while rookie tight end Carsen Ryan is the only practice‑squad elevation, returning after a brief release to make room for running back Dylan Sampson. Pittsburgh also shuffled its roster, adding WR Brandon Smith and elevating WR Brandon Johnson.
After 19 seasons coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin has embraced a broadcasting role with NBC Sports alongside Maria Taylor, Jason Garrett, Devin McCourty, and Mike Florio. He says the chief reason he isn’t returning to coaching is quality of life—80‑hour weeks, relentless pressure, and media scrutiny versus a predictable schedule, lower stress, and a lucrative TV salary. Though teams like the New York Jets and Washington Commanders show interest, Tomlin’s contract extension with the Steelers (through 2027 with a team option) means any hire would require a trade and draft compensation. Tomlin enjoys his new side of the game, but the door isn’t closed.
The Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints in Paris to improve to 5-2, but tight end Darnell Washington draws a league fine for a vulgar touchdown celebration. The penalty highlights the NFL’s crackdown on unsportsmanlike conduct, while the win keeps Pittsburgh healthy heading into the next stretch.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reports that 29‑year‑old pass rusher Alex Highsmith is drawing trade interest as the Steelers approach the Nov. 10 deadline. Pittsburgh’s edge rotation is crowded—four‑time All‑Pro T.J. Watt still dominates, while younger players Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer see increased snaps—giving GM Omar Khan leverage. Highsmith, under contract through 2027 at a reasonable cap hit, remains a prime‑time starter, making him an attractive long‑term asset for contenders. Though the Steelers aim for an AFC playoff run, a premium offer could prompt a deal before the deadline.
Ahead of the Week 8 showdown with the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers shuffle their receiving corps after injuries to Roman Wilson, Michael Pittman Jr., and a questionable Ben Skowronek. Pittsburgh signs practice‑squad WR Brandon Smith to the active 53‑man roster and promotes WR Brandon Johnson for the game. Smith, who logged two catches for 24 yards against the Saints, earns his first active‑roster spot, while Johnson makes his third and final elevation before returning to the practice squad.
The Steelers promote wide receiver Brandon Johnson from the practice squad to the active roster for Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns, marking his third and final elevation this season. Johnson, 27, has seen limited action—three snaps vs. Tampa Bay and eight vs. New Orleans—and has yet to be targeted. Injuries keep starters Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson on IR, leaving backup Ben Skowronek questionable with a calf issue. The team also signs practice‑squad tight end Brandon Smith to the 53‑man roster. Johnson, an undrafted UCF alum, has 26 career receptions for 335 yards and five TDs across stints with Pittsburgh, the Broncos and the Raiders.
The Pittsburgh Steelers promote practice‑squad receiver Brandon Smith (27) to the 53‑man roster after three weekly elevations amid a wide‑receiver injury crisis. Smith, who caught two passes from Aaron Rodgers for 24 yards last week, has logged 86 offensive snaps and contributed on special teams. Rodgers praised Smith’s intelligence and craft, recalling their time together with the New York Jets. With Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson still on IR and backup Ben Skowronek doubtful, Smith could see a larger role. The move fills the roster spot opened by DL Sebastian Joseph‑Day’s IR placement.
The Steelers announced two roster moves on Saturday before hosting the Browns in Week 8. Veteran wide receiver Brandon Smith joins the 53‑man roster after his third elevation was used in Paris, while the team also made a second addition (details pending). These moves aim to bolster Pittsburgh’s offense ahead of the October 31 matchup at Acrisure Stadium.
Adam Thielen told ESPN’s NFL Live why Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wideout DK Metcalf have struggled to click this season. Thielen says Rodgers prefers static, straightforward routes, while Metcalf isn’t the type to line up and play without motion or stack concepts, limiting his effectiveness. Metcalf has recorded just 850 total yards, with only 374 through the first seven games and one 100‑yard effort against Cleveland. Thielen’s insight, based on having played with both players, highlights Metcalf’s lack of versatility as a key obstacle for the Steelers' AFC North push.