Daily Links: Ex-Steelers OL Out for Season, Joe Burrow Update

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, former Pittsburgh Steelers guard Trai Turner, who just signed this week with the New Orleans Saints, tore his quadriceps and is out for the season. The injury ruins Turner’s homecoming as he’s a New Orleans native and LSU alum. Turner made five Pro Bowls during his time with the Carolina Panthers before one-year stints with the Los Angeles Chargers, Steelers and Washington Commanders over the last three seasons.

🏈 Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters in Cincinnati that he expects quarterback Joe Burrow to be sidelined “several weeks” due to his right calf injury. Burrow was carted off the field after being injured in a drill during the team’s training camp practice on Thursday. Burrow was rolling to his right during an 11-on-11 drill when he came up limping with a non-contact injury to his right leg.

🏈 Steelers.com: The Steelers Hall of Honor Class of 2023 will be revealed on Saturday, July 29 at 1 p.m. during a program at Saint Vincent College. Steelers Nation can watch the announcement on the Steelers digital channels. To be considered for the Hall of Honor, a player must be retired at least three years and played a minimum of three seasons for the Steelers. Former coaches and contributors had to make significant contributions to the team and community.

🏈 The 33rd Team: Kenny Pickett was one of eight quarterbacks who didn’t throw a red zone interception in 2022. Pickett was 18 of 46 and had a 5-0 touchdown-interception ratio inside the red zone.

🏈 The Steelers have the second-longest streak in the NFL without double-digit losses in a season, behind just the New England Patriots. The last time the Steelers had double-digit losses was in 2003 when they went 6-10. New England’s last double-digit loss campaign came in 2000 when they went 5-11. The Steelers have the longest non-losing season streak, however, which was the aforementioned 2003 season.

🏈 Steelers Community Relations: Kids from the Urban Impact Foundation joined several Steelers players after Friday’s training camp practice.

Thanks for joining us at #SteelersCamp, Urban Impact Foundation! pic.twitter.com/F23FQFOtxS

— Steelers Community Relations (@SteelersCR) July 28, 2023

🏈  Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada displayed a good sense of humor by signing a toilet seat at Friday’s training camp practice. The fan on Instagram said it was all in good fun and wasn’t meant to be an insult.

#Steelers Matt Canada signing a toilet seat at Training Camp today pic.twitter.com/hwvzh72JBu

— SteelerNation (@SteeIerNation) July 28, 2023

📅 On this date in 2000, former Steelers owner Dan Rooney was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After decades of losing, Rooney implemented a philosophy and management style that turned the Steelers into a dominant and model franchise. He emphasized open, practical and efficient management. He also was a strong believer in stability and patience, which speaks to why the Steelers have had just three head coaches since 1969 — Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. Noll and Cowher are already in the Hall of Fame, while Mike Tomlin will surely be in Canton someday, as well. All three were hired by Rooney. Under Rooney’s leadership, the Steelers won 15 division championships, eight AFC Championships, and an NFL record six Super Bowl Championships during his tenure. He was also credited with spearheading a requirement that NFL teams with head coach and general manager vacancies interview at least one minority candidate, which has become known as the “Rooney Rule.” Outside of football, Rooney served as the United States Ambassador to Ireland, from July 2009 until his resignation in December 2012. He was also co-founder of the Ireland-related fundraising organization The Ireland Funds.

🎂 Happy 64th birthday to former Steelers defensive lineman Keith Willis.

Born on July 29, 1959 in Newark, N.J., Willis joined the Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of Northaestern and went on to have a 12-year NFL career. He spent 10 seasons in Pittsburgh and five as a starter on the defensive line.

After leaving Pittsburgh in 1992, he played one season for the Buffalo Bills and split 1993 between the Washington Redskins and New York Jets.

Since retiring, Willis has been a coach for Slippery Rock, Cincinnati, Boston College, NC State, the Monreal Alouettes, Tennessee Titans, Edinboro and is currently the defensive line coach and run game coordinator for North Carolina A&T.

🎥 Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner broke down Kenny Pickett’s plays from the pocket in 2022. Warner also examined Pickett’s progressions from his rookie campaign.

AROUND THE NETWORK

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: The Penguins are better, but time is running out to make further improvements.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Mitch Keller bounced back, but the Bucs bats took the night off, losing 2-1 to the Phillies.

Pittsburgh Sports Now: Phil Jurkovec is confident entering his final college season at Pitt.

West Virginia Sports Now: West Virginia has been included in ACC expansion rumors.

Nittany Sports Now: Matt Rhule still loves Penn State.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Slow starts and poor execution in the final third have caused the Riverhounds pain in their two-game slide.