Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf did not travel back to Pittsburgh with the team after they beat the Ravens on Sunday, but it looks like he’ll be able to go against the Dolphins in Week 15.
Metcalf went to a Baltimore hospital after experiencing stomach pain. Head coach Mike Tomlin said at his Tuesday press conference that the wideout was injured on a hit early in the game and the pain got worse despite taking over the counter medication during the game, but is “moving in the right direction.” Tomlin said that Metcalf may be limited early in the practice week, but doesn’t “think it’s going to jeopardize his availability at all” for Monday night’s game against the Dolphins.
Tomlin also updated other injuries. Tackle Calvin Anderson is expected to miss another game with a knee injury while safety Kyle Dugger will have a chance to play after missing the Ravens game with a hand injury. Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon has missed multiple games with a knee injury and will be limited in practice as the Steelers assess whether he’s ready for game action.
Offensive lineman Andrus Peat, tight end Darnell Washington, and linebacker Malik Harrison were all ruled out against the Ravens after concussion evaluations and remain in the protocol. Peat started at left tackle and Dylan Cook got his first regular season playing time after he exited the game.
A week before the Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin secured a key win in Baltimore, Tomlin’s team suffered an embarrassing home loss to the Bills.
The 26-7 defeat prompted audible chants of “Fire Tomlin!,” and boos during the team’s iconic Renegade moment.
During Tomlin’s traditional Tuesday in-season press conference, he was asked whether he believed last week that he was on the hot seat.
“Man, I’ve been in the hot seat for 19 years,” Tomlin said. “I always feel like I got something to prove. Not necessarily to anyone in particular, but that’s just the spirit in which I go about what I do professionally.”
Still, last week was different. It also included former players, including Ben Roethlisberger and James Harrison, openly expressing a belief that it’s time for a change.
The fans who were disgruntled in Week 13 will be back for Week 15, against the Dolphins. What does Tomlin expect from them?
“I expect them to show up, man,” Tomlin said. “It’s Monday Night Football in Acrisure [Stadium]. It’s gonna be a big game.”
It will be that. The Steelers are 7-6, and the Dolphins are surprisingly 6-7. And if things don’t go well for the Steelers in a game they’re favored to win by only three points, the chants and the boos could return — for a national TV audience to hear.
The NFL has announced eight finalists for this season’s Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award.
A panel made up of former NFL players Warrick Dunn, Larry Fitzgerald, Curtis Martin, and Leonard Wheeler chose the finalists after each team nominated one player for consideration. The award goes to the player that “best demonstrates the qualities of on-field sportsmanship, including fair play, respect for the game and opponents, an integrity in competition.”
Cardinals safety Budda Baker has been selected as a finalist for the third straight season. Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David, Saints linebacker Demario Davis, and Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill are the other finalists from the NFC.
The AFC finalists are Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, Jets defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, Dolphins defensive tackle Zach Sieler, and Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy.
Current NFL players will cast their votes for one of the finalists and the winner will be announced at the NFL Honors event during Super Bowl week.
Cincinnati’s loss in Buffalo became New England’s and Baltimore’s game.
Assuming they want to play a night game in 13 days.
The NFL has flexed the Week 16 Sunday night game between the Bengals and Dolphins out of prime time. It will be replaced by the Patriots at Ravens game.
The Bengals-Dolphins game has moved to 1:00 p.m. ET.
With the Bengals falling to 4-9, and likely exiting the playoff chase, the Patriots-Ravens game consists of one team that is chasing the AFC East and the No. 1 seed and another team that is trying to win the AFC North. It will be a much more compelling game.
Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf did not travel back to Pittsburgh with the team after Sunday’s 27-22 win.
The team confirmed, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, that Metcalf remained in Baltimore after experiencing stomach pains. Metcalf went to a hospital for evaluation before sleeping in a hotel and he is expected to return home on Monday.
Metcalf’s hospital visit was to rule out any significant internal injuries resulting from a hit he took while catching seven passes for 148 yards from Aaron Rodgers.
The coming days will provide more of an idea about Metcalf’s availability for Week 15 and the Steelers will have an extra day to assess where things stand before they play the Dolphins next Monday night.
