News: Scores, Stats, Headlines, Injury Updates, Transactions & More (2024)

Kaboly pencils in free agent signee WR Van Jefferson as the team’s current No. 2 but believes “it would show a lack of awareness and urgency” if the front office opts not to bring in outside talent. Jefferson is best used as a rotational player, having failed to best his 2020 rookie season 1.46 yards per route run average in the three years since. When considering other in-house options, Kaboly did not list third-round rookie Roman Wilson as a candidate which bodes poorly for his access to the fantasy-friendly two-wide receiver sets. A veteran addition would further jeopardize his 2024 relevance.

Sutton, 29, played for the Steelers from 2017 to 2022 before a one-year stint with the Lions, who released him in April. Sutton in April was charged with one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. He’s been accused of domestic battery by strangulation, a third-degree felony in the state of Florida, where the incident allegedly happened, according to SportingNews.com. Sutton faces up to five years in prison if convicted. He has nine interceptions over seven NFL seasons.

The Steelers used their No. 20 overall pick to address their needs at tackle with the selection of Fautanu. The former Washington Husky didn’t become a full-time start until 2022 but was among the best tackles in the nation over the last two years. Playing on more than 1,200 passing plays, Fautanu allowed just two sacks on 38 pressures during his final two seasons, and should provide immediate protection for Russell Wilson/Justin Fields this year in Pittsburgh.

Kaboly said Wilson was precise and accurate, demonstrating effective play action during the team’s OTA sessions. He frequently targeted Freiermuth, who worked closely with Wilson this spring. Freiermuth is healthy, entering his contract year and finally has an accurate quarterback and an offensive coordinator who will highlight the tight end. He could have a breakout year,” Kaboly said. Coming off a disappointing, injury-ridden 2023 season in which he had 32 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns, Freiermuth could benefit from a target spike as the second option in Pittsburgh’s run-heavy offense.

A week after being released by the Chiefs, Perine now lands with the Steelers with a chance to make the roster as added backfield depth. The fifth-year pro has a career rushing line of 94-340-2 in 17 career games and appeared in just three games for the Chiefs last season. With Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, and Cordarrell Patterson’s roles already in place for the season, Perine will likely be competing to be the fourth running back on the depth chart.

Fields practiced alongside nominal starting QB Russell Wilson during OTAs this week and said the quarterback duo is “definitely competing” for the Steelers’ Week 1 starting job. “I’m not the same quarterback that I was last year,” Fields said. “I’m not the same quarterback that I even was yesterday. … I think I have a lot more room to grow. I’m nowhere near my ceiling.” The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo said the quarterback competition will continue throughout the summer, though it “remains to be seen whether Fields can do enough in practice and in preseason games to change the team’s thinking.” The hyper-mobile Fields could eventually be used as a red zone weapon while Wilson is deployed as the between-the-20s QB in Arthur Smith’s run-heavy offense.

Fields also stated that he is nowhere his ceiling and that Wilson knows they are competing. Although he will enter the season as a backup, he’ll likely need an injury or subpar play from Wilson to be QB1. Until he’s the starter, Fields is most likely best stashed on your dynasty rosters.

Harris has reportedly lost seven pounds this offseason and has been “almost obsessively clean” with his diet in recent months. “It’s all fueling his fire to have an even better season than last year and prove a lot of people wrong,” said Josh Scott, Harris’ trainer. “There’s a lot of people that hate on him for whatever reason, but he’s been as consistent as you can be. He’s durable. I think he’s going to continue with that. I mean, contract season, that pretty much speaks for itself.” The Steelers this month decided not to pick up Harris’ fifth-year option, though the team has not ruled out striking a deal with Harris to keep him in Pittsburgh beyond the 2024 season. He’ll likely split the backfield workload this season with the more explosive, efficient Jaylen Warren.

The two-time Super Bowl champions will head to Pittsburgh to play in a Christmas game broadcast on Netflix. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs contingent will be competing for one of the top seeds in the AFC at this time while the Steelers may be competing for a playoff spot. At this point of the season, the Steelers will have a large sample size to judge their quarterback room and either Justin Fields will have taken over or Russell Wilson will be holding down the fort. With the other Christmas game being Ravens-Texans, this day looks to have massive playoff implications in the AFC.

Heyward has not attended voluntary offseason workouts and looks to sit out OTAs as he awaits a contract extension. The six-time Pro Bowler is entering the final season of a four-year, $65 million contract. He has been with the Steelers since getting drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Heyward just turned 35 and is a three-time first-team All-Pro, though his 2023 season was plagued by injury. He appeared in 11 games, tallying two sacks and winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for his off-the-field work. Fowler notes that Heyward has never missed an offseason program. The Steelers will work to get an extension done with a mainstay of their defense for over the last decade.