Steelers Daily Links: Acrisure Lights Up for Hamlin; Pickett Clutch Stats

Acrisure Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, lit up its scoreboard in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Wednesday, while Kenny Pickett has continued to be great in the clutch.

🏈 In the last two games, Kenny Pickett has a 142.5 passer rating on the final drives of each game. On all the other drives, he has a 63.2 passer rating.

🏈 Kenny Pickett has had the ball down 4-6 points in the final five minutes in 4-of-12 games. Ben Roethlisberger had his fourth such opportunity in his 104th start. He also was 2-for-4 at getting the game-winning touchdown.

🏈 On the latest edition of the “Footbahlin” podcast, Ben Roethlisberger and Spence Te’o talked about the Steelers late season run, the legendary Franco Harris, and how Kenny Pickett has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback.

🏈 New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh hopes to play spoiler this week for the Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes. “Would it be nice to have Mike McDaniel hanging out with me poolside in a couple weeks? Damn right it would,” Saleh said smiling.

🏈 George Pickens has not had more than six targets in a game since Week 5, averaging 2.9 catches and 43.5 yards per game during that span.

🏈 Najee Harris needs just 46 rushing yards on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns to eclipse the 1,000-yard marker for the second consecutive year. Harris’ broke Franco Harris’ franchise rookie rushing record last year with 1,200 yards.

🏈 Le’Veon Bell blames his career downfall with the New York Jets on Adam Gase. “I was a better player … it’s just hard to get off when Adam Gase is your coach calling dives on 1st & 10 … he had dives in his first 10 plays,” Bell responded on Twitter to a fan who said he wasn’t the same elite player after his year-long holdout in 2017. Bell also got into it with a fan who said he took less money to sign with the Jets. “Jets guaranteed 35 million, and the Steelers guaranteed 17 million… so did I take less bread tho “champ”? it’s understandable tho, you and ppl like you don’t understand how the steelers do contracts … so y’all REALLY think I took less money which is kinda sad honestly,” Bell wrote.

🏈 According to Pro Football Talk, momentum is currently pointing toward Bills-Bengals not being resumed, with AFC playoff seeding based on winning percentage following the outcome of the Week 18 games.

🏈 Indianapolis Colts safety Rodney Thomas, who was a high school teammate of Damar Hamlin at Pittsburgh Central Catholic, drove to Cincinnati to visit him in the hospital. “He’s doing good,” Thomas said. “He’s building up strength so he can walk out of that room.” Thomas has no doubt that Hamlin will pull through. “I 100% believe that.”

🏈 New England Patriots Robert Kraft and the Patriots donated $18,003 to Damar Hamlin’s toy drive. Within the Jewish faith, 18 is “chai” and signifies life. The “3” is  Hamlin’s number.

🏈 The Steelers and Pitt lit up the scoreboard at Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday night expressing continued prayers for Damar Hamlin. The Penguins also honored Hamlin last night.

❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/bEFX5nT6Zr

— Acrisure Stadium (@AcrisureStadium) January 4, 2023

🎂 Happy birthday to former Steelers tackle John Jackson, who turns 58 today, and former Steelers guard Chris Kemoeatu, who turns 40.

📅 The late great Chuck Noll was born on January 5, 1932. Noll was the Steelers’ head coach from 1969-1991 and led Pittsburgh to four Super Bowl titles in the 1970s. Noll was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

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STEELERS DRAFT DIGEST

🏈 Penn State wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley officially entered the 2023 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound receiver could be a day three slot option for the Steelers.

STEELERS SCHEDULE

🏈 The Pittsburgh Steelers have an open locker room at 10:45 a.m., and practice at 12:15 p.m. — Alan Saunders

AROUND THE NETWORK

Class of 2024 Lincoln Park guard Brandin Cummings, younger brother of Pitt point guard Nelly Cummings, has committed to the Panthers.

 Is everyone on the same page during the Penguins losing streak?

 How concerning is the 0-2 start for conference play for WVU basketball?

 PSU WR Keandre Lambert-Smith said his big game in the Rose Bowl is just the start.

 The Pirates traded pitcher Bryse Wilson to the Brewers for cash.