The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
JIM ANDERSON FROM TOLEDO, OH: What is the criteria that is used to list a player as a full participant vs. being a limited participant on the Injury Report?
ANSWER: Limited Participation (LP) is less than 100 percent of a player's normal repetitions; Full Participation (FP) is 100 of a player's normal repetitions; and Not Injury-Related (NIR) signifies that a player is withheld from his normal repetitions for reasons other than injury.
DONNIE BROWN FROM VAN BUREN, ME: It was tough to see Darnell Washington go on IR for the remainder of this season. Hoping his surgery and rehab go well so that we can see him steamrolling in 2026. Can they make him bigger, faster, and stronger?
ANSWER: I don't know whether Darnell Washington's measurables can be increased, but because he will be going into his fourth NFL training camp as a 24-year-old I believe he can still continue to develop as a player and professional.
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PAUL COSTANZA FROM NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA: Any idea of what the offensive game plan will be on Sunday vs. the Ravens? Try to establish the run first, or utilize the tight ends more? Against the Browns it looked like our WRs could not create separation.
ANSWER: There are a lot of things that will be different about the Steelers offense this week vs. what we saw in Cleveland. First of all, both G Isaac Seumalo and WR Calvin Austin III are expected to play after missing the Browns game with injuries. And the other significant factor is how Baltimore's defense differs from Cleveland's. The Browns defense ranked No. 2 in the NFL in total yards allowed vs. a No. 25 ranking for the Ravens; the Browns ranked No. 2 in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game vs. No. 29 for the Ravens; and the Browns defense ranked No. 2 in the NFL in sacks per pass attempt vs. No. 31 for the Ravens. Because this is a winner-take-all situation, how it happens is not as relevant as the Steelers simply finding a way to score more points than the Ravens.
LARRY LASH FROM TARENTUM, PA: I heard a professional analyst comment on Mason Rudolph never getting a fair chance to be a starting QB in the NFL. Do you think he did, I mean with the Steelers and Titans? What's your opinion and also do you believe he was ever really considered Ben's heir?
ANSWER: My recollection was that when the Steelers spent a No. 3 (76th overall) pick in the 2018 NFL Draft on Mason Rudolph, their quarterback depth chart contained Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones, and Joshua Dobbs. Roethlisberger might have been 36, but he still was playing to the level of a franchise QB, and neither Jones nor Dobbs had shown themselves to be special. I believe the Steelers liked Rudolph after the scouting process, and when it came to their pick in the third round, they decided he was a good value. I don't believe the Steelers were shopping for an "heir," but if Rudolph shows himself to be a better backup than Jones, then it was worth it to select him at that point in the draft. I don't know anything about your "professional analyst" source, but what I have learned is that the league decides. Players are able to become unrestricted free agents, which means they are free to move wherever and all 32 teams are able to bid on their services. Rudolph hit unrestricted free agency two different times. The league decided what he is.
STEVE SOKOL FROM BEIT SHEMESH, ISRAEL: DK Metcalf's suspension for two games means that he loses two games' salary. Will that money get added to next year's salary cap?
ANSWER: A player who is suspended by the NFL does not receive his salary during the length of the suspension, and his team does not have that money charged to the salary cap. Teams that have salary cap money left after the season ends and everyone has been paid are able to carry that over to the following league year.
JOHN MARTIN FROM ARENDTSVILLE, PA: In regard to the "no call" pass interference on the last play vs the Browns, has any official comment come from the league about whether they feel that was a bad "no call?" It seems sometimes they come out and comment but most times they do not. Was Aaron Rodgers ever fined for his comments? Also, I know they experimented with allowing coaches to challenge pass interference in the past, is there any talk of bringing that back?
ANSWER: As a general rule, the NFL does not comment one way or another about specific calls in a game. There could be a pool report, where an on-site media member may be granted a brief audience with the game's referee to ask about some specific things. But there is no "announcement." I'm not going to claim there are times when information leaks or is leaked, but you catch my drift.
What Aaron Rodgers said and how he said it after the game about that play did not deserve a fine. And league ownership has shown little appetite to expand replay for the purpose of adding more penalties to the game.
SCOTT RANDALL FROM CONWAY, SC: Regardless of how this season ends, do you think Aaron Rodgers is done? The class of college quarterbacks declaring for the NFL Draft doesn't seem elite. Do you think if Will Howard gets in a full preseason that he will have any shot at a chance to be the starter?
ANSWER: A lot of questions in there, and some of them are liberally sprinkled with qualifiers, but all I am willing to opine at this stage of the process is that I would be surprised if the Steelers went to training camp with a QB depth chart that had Will Howard any higher than No. 2. If that means he will "have any shot at a chance" then the answer to your last question is a yes.
RAY ZARATE FROM COMSTOCK PARK, MI: Whatever happened to Will Howard? Nothing is ever said about his progression.
ANSWER: Will Howard is the No. 3 quarterback on the 53-man roster. Players in that role do not have progress reports made and then given to the public.
GRANT SPELLERBERG FROM CUTLER BAY, FL: A few weeks back I sent you a question regarding the trade for DK Metcalf and the trading away of George Pickens. If you compare their stats you can see that Pickens' are way better. You made a point indicating that Pickens' behavior was an issue. As it turns out DK may cost the Steelers a playoff spot because of his behavior. Do you still think it was a wise choice for the Steelers to make those trades?
ANSWER: The way I view this submission is that you believe the Steelers were unwise to make those trades, and you're looking for me to agree with you. I'm not really interested in that.
