Steelers Daily: Malik Reed Fit in Pittsburgh, T.J. Watt Knee Update

Alan Saunders |

Sep 1, 2022

The Steelers filled their practice squad halfway on Wednesday, bringing back RB Anthony McFarland Jr., OL John Leglue and DT Carlos Davis, among others.

Mitch Trubisky and Matt Canada are backing the Steelers offensive line, despite that unit coming under fire for its below-the-line play this preseason: “We’re going to continue to get better and continue to work to put them in a good position to make plays.”

It’s a good thing they’re comfortable. Alan Saunders says don’t expect the Steelers to be able to fix those offensive line issues at this stage of the offseason.

T.J. Watt says his injured left knee is fine, and he has no hard feelings toward Lions tight end T.J. Hockenson, but wonders how he can better protect himself from injury during low blocks.

Practice Notes: Safety Damontae Kazee is expected to miss several weeks with the left arm injury he suffered in the preseason finale on Sunday. Who will fill in for him at safety?

Mike Tomlin is excited about what new Steelers outside linebacker Malik Reed can bring to the table. “I like his motor. He appears to be an attention-to-detail guy. He plays bigger than his measurables.”

Former Steelers inside linebacker and Denver Broncos analyst, Chad Brown, is bullish on Malik Reed. “If Malik Reed started a full season opposite T.J. Watt, I think he could have 10-11 sacks,” https://twitter.com/ThePoniExpress/status/1565048991221440517″>Brown

said on 93.7 The Fan.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks Kenny Pickett can bring more excitement to the Steelers than Mitch Trubisky. “Winning is the ultimate source of excitement, but it’s only going to get worse on Trubisky if he’s the starter and he struggles. The Kenny Pickett chants are going to get louder and louder,” Florio said.

Cam Heyward talked about the difficulty of NFL roster cuts on his https://twitter.com/NotJustFootball/status/1565093012681678850″>Not

Just Football podcast. “We as fans only think about the guys who make it, but there are tons of guys who don’t make it,” Heyward said. “There’s a lot of good talent that gets left behind. Even if you don’t make the 53, you’re fighting for the 16-man practice squad, and that’s a very selfless job.”

The New York Giants claimed former Steelers third-round draft pick, cornerback Justin Layne, off waivers after he was cut by Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

As voted on by the NFL on FOX fans, Kenny Pickett is https://twitter.com/NFLonFOX/status/1565069132483235842″>projected

to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Most outlets and sportsbooks have Pickett as the favorite to win OROY. Barstool Sports Promo Code.

Lawyers for Brian Flores, other coaches blast idea of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell leading arbitration in racial bias lawsuit.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed former Steelers quarterback and seventh-round draft pick Chris Oladokun to their practice squad.

The Dallas Cowboys placed former Steelers wide receiver James Washington on injured reserve. Washington broke a bone in his foot at practice on Aug. 1 and is expected to https://twitter.com/EpicNemec/status/1554622484166721541″>miss

6-10 weeks. With being on IR, Washington won’t be eligible to return until Week 5 at the earliest.

Former Steelers outside linebacker Genard Avery landed on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1565034390949871624″>practice

squad after being cut by the club on Tuesday. Avery was released by Pittsburgh on Aug. 23 after signing with the team in March.

AROUND THE AFC NORTH

Carolina Panthers quarterback Baker Mayfield refuted the report that he said he was going to “f**k up” the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. “I want to win in everything I do, that’ll never change,” https://twitter.com/Sheena_Marie3/status/1565071682351599619″>Mayfield

told reporters. “That is not how I phrased it, that’s not even what I said, so I’ll just leave it at that.”

The Cincinnati Bengals added 13 players to their https://twitter.com/AaronWilson_NFL/status/1565065613726437376″>practice

squad. Former Steelers outside linebacker Tegray Scales and ex-Pitt long snapper Cal Adomitis were two of the 13 players who made Cincinnati’s practice squad.

The Baltimore Ravens https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1564557429685293059″>signed

veteran free agent running back Kenyan Drake.

STEELERS SCHEDULE

The Steelers are off until Monday. Kenny Pickett and several of his teammates are expected to attend the Pitt vs. West Virginia game at Acrisure Stadium tonight at 7 p.m.