Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) runs with the ball in front of Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Steelers star LB T.J. Watt (ankle) limited in practice

Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt was a limited practice participant Wednesday, three days after injuring his left ankle during a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Watt’s status for Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens has yet to be determined.

He missed practice on Tuesday and then made progress while taking part in individual drills on Wednesday.

Watt injured the ankle with 4:46 left in Pittsburgh’s 27-13 road loss to the Eagles.

The 30-year-old Watt had two sacks and a forced fumble to go with seven tackles on Sunday. He has 11 1/2 sacks this season to reach double digits for the sixth time in his eight-year career.

Watt, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has 108 career sacks in 118 games with Pittsburgh. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982).

Backup quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal), receiver George Pickens (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) missed Wednesday’s practice for Pittsburgh.

Pickens has missed the past two games. He leads the Steelers with 55 receptions and 850 yards. He has caught three touchdown passes.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (18) catches a pass for a two point conversion as Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II applies coverage during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

Remember me? Steelers’ George Pickens claims not to know Browns CB

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens and Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome meet again Sunday when the AFC North rivals square off for the second time in three weeks, a rematch of Cleveland’s 24-19 victory on a snow globe of a Thursday night Nov. 21.

Somehow it still feels like the first time to Pickens.

The mercurial Steelers wideout was physically entangled with Newsome when Russell Wilson’s final pass landed without Pickens noticing. He slammed Newsome into the wall framing the field as the final seconds of the loss ticked off the clock.

“I don’t even know who that is,” Pickens said Friday when asked if he’d talk to Newsome to clear the air from their fracas, which ended with stadium security in Cleveland separating them.

After that game, Newsome said Pickens was a “fake tough guy,” and Pickens said the Browns “are not a good team at all,” crediting their win to snowy, slippery conditions in the second half.

The division rivals meet twice each season and when Cleveland came to Pittsburgh last season, Pickens caught four passes for 127 yards and a 71-yard touchdown. He had four for 48 in the Nov. 21 loss.

Last week, Pickens, 23, was flagged twice for unsportsmanlike conduct, prompting head coach Mike Tomlin to say Pickens must “grow up in a hurry.”

“He’s just got to grow up, man,” Tomlin said last Sunday. “This emotional game, man, these divisional games are big. He got a target on his back because he’s George. He understands that, but he’s got to grow up.”

Newsome was informed after practice Friday that Pickens claimed not to know him and took the high road for now.

“I’m all about the team. Obviously he’s a guy that cares more about himself, and you can see that in the penalties he causes,” Newsome said. “For me, my job is to try and do whatever I can to help the team win. There’s never going to be no one-on-one battle for me. My battle is to try and help my team get the win.

“He does that type of stuff all the time. There will never be a man that could fuel me in any type of way.”

Pickens has a team-high 55 receptions (90 targets) for 850 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA;  Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) throws a pass during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Top 10 Player Props For NFL Week 11

Week 11 of the NFL season got off to an exciting start with the Commanders vs. Eagles game on “Thursday Night Football.”

Bettors have the rest of Week 11 ahead of them, but they don’t have to settle for the traditional betting line if they don’t want to. No, each game comes with a healthy menu of player props.

Bettors can choose from over a thousand player props for the Sunday games. The following is a list of our top 10 player props for NFL Week 11 (in no particular order).

NFL Week 11: Player Props

Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears

Jordan Love, O/U 32.5 passing attempts at -102/-128 (FanDuel)

Opponents have averaged just over 30 attempts per game against the Bears this season and just over 27 in the last three. Why so few? Because foes don’t need to throw on the Bears.

Once teams get out to a sufficient lead, they lean heavily on the run to run time off the clock. That’s what the Patriots did when they beat the Bears last week, as did the Cardinals the week before.

Love has exceeded 32.5 attempts in four of his seven starts this season, including two of his past three. But don’t count on him to do it again, as the Packers will do like everyone else when they play the Bears and lean on the run game. Take the UNDER.

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Joe Burrow, O/U 265.5 passing yards at -115/-115 (DraftKings)

Burrow widely is regarded as one of the better passers in the NFL. Anyone who watched him throw for 428 yards last week vs. the Ravens will probably agree with that sentiment. However, there are a couple of things working against Burrow going OVER this total.

For one, the Chargers have a solid pass defense that is allowing just 191.6 yards per game. While Burrow is averaging 267.2 passing yards per game, take away his two ridiculous outings against the Ravens, and his average is 231.5 yards per game. Take the UNDER.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

George Pickens, O/U 68.5 receiving yards at -120/-110

George Pickens, longest reception, O/U 26.5 yards at -135/+100

George Pickens, O/U 4.5 Reception made at -130/+100

George Pickens, 75+ Receiving Yards at +110

*Odds via BetMGM

The Ravens can’t defend against the pass (league-worst 294.9 yards allowed per game). It’s been well-documented and evident whenever they play a competent quarterback. Russell Wilson appears to be one once again, and he has done a great job connecting with George Pickens on deep balls.

In Wilson’s three starts, the veteran quarterback hit Pickens with a long of 44, 43 and 34 yards. No one gives up more 20-plus-yard receptions than the Ravens (47). Wide receivers are averaging nearly 200 yards a game against the Ravens. If Wilson targets Pickens eight times, he will make at least five catches and almost certainly will go OVER 68.5 yards, if not 75+ as well.

Unless the Ravens suddenly figure out how to defend against the pass, Pickens will have a career day. Take the OVER for each prop.

Lamar Jackson, O/U 43.5 rushing yards at -127/-108 (Caesars)

Jackson has gone over this number in seven of 10 games this season but not in his past two. Against the Steelers, he will face one of the best run defenses in the game (No. 4, 87.1 ypg allowed). But they are not just good at stopping running backs. Pittsburgh is quite good at containing running quarterbacks.

The Steelers’ defense is one of the best at keeping quarterbacks from scrambling. Quarterbacks are running on 1.5 percent of dropbacks, the lowest rate in the league.

If Jackson sets his mind to it, he would clear 44 yards against the Steelers D, but they don’t need him to. That’s what they signed Derrick Henry for, so someone other than their quarterback can run for the tough yards. Take the UNDER.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions

Amon-Ra St. Brown, O/U 76.5 receiving yards at -105/-115 (DraftKings)

Jared Goff, O/U 228.5 passing yards at -113/-113 (FanDuel)

Jahmyr Gibbs, O/U 15.5 rushing attempts at +100/-130 (BetMGM)

Bonus: Jahmyr Gibbs, O/U 69.5 rushing yards at -113/-113 (FanDuel)

St. Brown has gone over this total just twice this season, vs. the Buccaneers in Week 2 and the Vikings in Week 7. The Jaguars do not have a defense that can contain him, but don’t count on him to go OVER 76.5 yards. Why not? The Lions will not need him to.

Detroit is a massive favorite in this game. Once the Lions get a comfortable lead, the offense will focus more on running the ball and eating up the clock. That is also why Goff will probably not go over 228.5 yards passing, a number he has gone over once in his past three games.

Take the UNDER for both.

As for Gibbs and his rushing attempts, he has gone over 15.5 carries just twice this season as he is in a committee with David Montgomery. (They both have 122 carries heading into this game). Thus, Gibbs is getting 13.6 attempts per game, so he would need at least two more to hit the OVER.

Assuming the Lions do lean on the run in the second half once the game is in hand, he would get closer to 20 carries and closer to 90-100 yards than 69.5. Take the OVER on both.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) breaks a tackle by Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Steelers WR George Pickens claims ignorance of eye-black rule

Steelers wide receiver George Pickens claimed ignorance of the NFL policy prohibiting display of personal messages without league approval as he awaits a potential fine for the expletive etched in his eye black last Sunday night.

Pickens added Thursday he hasn’t received a message or certified mail — official word from the NFL of an incoming fine — in response to his eye black reading “Open F–ing Always” in the Steelers’ loss to the Cowboys.

“Never seen it before,” Pickens said Thursday. “Have you seen it before?”

The Steelers have seen it before. Defensive end Cam Heyward was fined for writing a tribute to his father, the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward,” in his eye black in 2015.

Drafted in 2022, Pickens turned 23 in March and was in eighth grade in 2015.

Playing time was a topic Pickens said would need to be discussed with coaches. Specifically, he pointed to first-year offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as the person who could answer questions about using Pickens for a career-low 34 snaps against the Cowboys.

“It’s not on me,” he said. “It’s all up to Art.”

Pickens leads the Steelers with 23 receptions and 36 targets in five games this season. Smith said he understands the topic arose because of a loss, but stressed the strategy of trying to beat the Cowboys — or any other team — is never about one player. He had specific memories of limiting the role of other prominent players in previous coaching stints.

“You’re going into any game plan, certain players and how we package things you’re trying to maximize snaps,” Smith said. “Different lifetime, but certainly done it with other premium players. Done it with Derrick Henry. He wanted to be out there to play, and he wasn’t out there in all the third downs and he got plenty of touches. Did it with A.J. Brown, early, certain things and trying to mix and match and maximize things or set things up. (Pickens) is still, I believe, depending on what metric you’re using, seventh in targets in passing downs or passing opportunities in the league.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) runs after a catch against the Dallas Cowboys during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Dallas won 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Report: Steelers’ George Pickens facing fine for eye black expletive

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is facing a potential fine for writing an expletive on his eye black, ESPN reported Wednesday.

During Sunday night’s loss to the visiting Dallas Cowboys, Pickens had the message “Open F—ing Always” written in silver over the eye black, per the report.

The NFL is said to be reviewing the incident as a potential violation of Rule 5, Section 4, Article 8, which prohibits players from “wearing, displaying or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office.”

Pickens, 23, caught three of seven targets for a season-low 26 yards in Sunday’s 20-17 defeat. He has 23 catches for 310 yards and no touchdowns through five starts this season.

The 2022 second-round pick is coming off a breakout 2023 season in which he led the NFL in yards per reception (18.1), catching 63 passes for 1,140 yards and five TDs in 17 games (16 starts).

–Field Level Media

Oct 22, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (14) and head coach Mike Tomlin meet with Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris following the game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers won’t block WR George Pickens from playing this week

Steelers wide receiver George Pickens is part of Pittsburgh’s gameplan this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Head coach Mike Tomlin declined disclosure of any team discipline for Pickens, who admitted to avoiding blocking in the running game last week in a critical loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Pickens said Tuesday he was intentionally not blocking because he didn’t want to get hurt.

“I didn’t want to get injured,” said Pickens after being called out via social media for dodging contact as a downfield blocker. “When you stay in and block somebody, you can get run up on very easily.”

Interim offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner said he addressed Pickens’ situation privately and with the wide receiver group. Tomlin said he met with Pickens one-on-one Wednesday, then accepted the media request to hold an unscheduled press conference to discuss the matter.

“I would like him to be more professional in terms of addressing some of his shortcomings with you guys [media] to further add fluidity to the process,” Tomlin said. “He’s not helping himself, he’s not helping the process in the manner in which he’s dealt with you guys, but the manner in which he deals with you guys is not necessarily a manner in which he deals with us or himself regarding acknowledging where he is and where he needs to go.”

Pickens has “obvious room” for improvement, Tomlin said.

The second-year receiver leads the Steelers with 52 receptions for 814 yards.

–Field Level Media