The opinions found in Asked and Answered do not reflect the views of the Steelers organization.
Let's get to it:
TRIGG MINNICK FROM ORLANDO, FL: Defensive linemen get a lot of credit for tackles for loss and sacks, but plays downfield matter, too. I see Cam Heyward making tackles and chasing ballcarriers downfield all the time, often 10 yards or more beyond the line of scrimmage. He seems to be more exceptional at this effort play than others. Is there any statistic for hustle, and is it also your impression that he is a unicorn regarding his downfield pursuit compared to other D-linemen across the league?
ANSWER: I am not aware of any statistic that measures hustle in defensive linemen, and I'm not familiar enough with the personnel league-wide to know how many others there are who make those kinds of plays. But the Steelers long have valued defensive linemen who can run, and the hustle component is something they work on during every practice in the individual period. At training camp, for example, there are drills where the defensive linemen practice coming off the ball, and it gets a bit competitive among them as to who consistently wins those short 5-yard "races." Another drill involves coming off the ball, and then turning and racing to catch an imaginary ballcarrier down the field. John Mitchell, who was the team's defensive line coach from 1994-2022, always emphasized pursuit downfield from the defensive linemen, and Cam Heyward is one of the guys who took that teaching to heart and always has made the effort to get himself into position to make those kind of plays.
- Download and listen to the Asked & Answered Podcast here: Apple Podcast | Spotify
DANA FISHER FROM ROCKPORT, ME: The Steelers signed Asante Samuel Jr. to the practice squad this week, and I know normally any team can sign a player from another team's practice squad to their 53-man roster. Is there a time frame that the Steelers will have to call him up to the 53-man roster? Or could they lose him immediately if another team wants him on its roster?
ANSWER: Asante Samuel Jr. has been an unrestricted free agent since March 11, 2025, and so any team that wanted to sign him has had plenty of opportunity. Complicating things for Samuel was that he had spinal fusion surgery in April, and so there was a period of rehabilitation from that procedure before he was cleared to participate in football again. Still, Samuel was on the open market for a period after being cleared, and he chose the Steelers from among the team that were interested. Samuel cannot be "taken" from the Steelers practice squad, because he is free to decline an offer from another team if he chooses. I cannot imagine he would choose to sign with the Steelers and then leave for another team after being here for such a short period of time.
STEPHEN FOSTER FROM BROADSTAIRS, UK: Are we ever going to see Cory Trice Jr. in the black-and-gold again? When he was drafted, I remember Coach Tomlin referring to him and Joey Porter Jr. as his "avatars" – 6-foot-3 cornerbacks with long arms – who would match up well in coverage. Since then Trice has had a dreadful time with injuries, missing part or the whole of each season on injured reserve. I understand he's now back in the 21-day window, but even while we seem to be struggling so much at cornerback, he hasn't been activated. Are the Steelers finished with him?
ANSWER: Cory Trice had his 21-day window opened when he returned to practice on Wednesday, Oct. 29. He was a full participant in practice that day. On Oct. 30, he was a limited participant in practice. And he has not been able to practice since. I see that as not being a very good sign.
SCOTT RANDALL FROM CONWAY, SC: So against the Chargers, the offensive line had a rough day along with Aaron Rodgers. We sign a defensive back. Why do we keep signing defensive players? I understand some defensive backs got hurt, but the issue at least in this past game was all on offense.
ANSWER: Signing players after the trading deadline isn't like walking into a grocery store, finding whatever you need on the shelves, and making the purchase. Who was available that the Steelers didn't sign?
SCOTT BARRACO FROM ROCHESTER, NY: After the safety in the Chargers game, Chris Boswell did the free kick off a tee. I had thought the free kick was done by the punter. Did that change with the new dynamic kickoff rules?
ANSWER: After a safety, the team has the option of punting or kicking from a tee for the free kick, and that has been the rule forever. Maybe the punting option is more common, but there still is that choice.
MIKE FOSTER FROM EWA BEACH, HI: What are your thoughts on the "tush push?" If I'm not mistaken, the OL has to be lined up between the center's belt to his shoulder pads, basically behind his helmet. On this and other similar plays the OL is lined up with the center's helmet, which is lined up with the ball, which makes them offsides? Most of the OL also moves early, which makes it a false start on top of an offsides penalty right?
ANSWER: Since I am old enough to remember when it was a penalty for the offense to have players push or otherwise aide the guy with the football, I never have been in favor of the tush-push. Somehow at some point, NFL officials stopped blowing the whistle when the ballcarrier's forward progress was stopped, and now there are these regular rugby scrums all over the place. And since the zebras have lost the ability to officiate the play – with there being regular replays showing frequent instances of false starts or offsides or both – just ban the thing.
GREG CULLIFER FROM SANFORD, NC: With all the talk about picking a franchise QB in the next draft, does Will Howard not have the qualities needed to be a franchise QB? I understand he was a late-round pick as was Tom Brady, and I'm NOT comparing him to Brady. Looks from afar like Howard has the size, arm strength, and mobility required to be a quality quarterback in the NFL. Wondering what your opinion is of him? What is he lacking?
ANSWER: I don't have an opinion of Will Howard, because he was injured in training camp before the start of the preseason and was then put on injured reserve until just being added to the 53-man roster a few days ago. There is a difference between being critical of Howard and anointing him, and that's what way too many Steelers fans are doing. Anointing him, and/or making the case that the team should assume he's going to be a great pro because of what he did during that championship run with Ohio State. Let's not forget that A LOT of NFL teams are looking for a franchise quarterback, and in the 2025 NFL Draft that came a few months after Ohio State's run to the National Championship, there were 7 quarterbacks drafted before him. What that says is that after watching video of his college career and then going through the entire pre-draft process, Howard wasn't that highly regarded by any of the teams looking to add to their depth chart at quarterback. Of course, none of that means that he cannot or will not succeed, but he must have been judged to be lacking something or he would've been picked before 185th overall. Keep reading for examples of what I referenced regarding Steelers fans wanting to anoint him, and there were a half-dozen more submissions just like it that I deleted.
KEN WAMSLEY FROM BIDWELL, OH: I'm very disappointed with the Steelers this season. My question is about Will Howard. Do you think his time may be coming this season?
ANSWER: Will Howard returned to practice earlier this week for the first time since injuring a finger on his right hand during training camp, and to his credit he seems to have a realistic grasp on his situation. "I was like, 'Man, it feels like I haven't played football in forever,'" Howard told Chris Adamski after Thursday's practice. "It was the longest I've gone without playing in a long time. It was definitely like knocking the rust off, but I feel like I'm getting better every week. I feel like I'm about back to where I was and want to just keep going like this … I'm really thankful that they made the decision to … activate me because … we have (Aaron Rodgers), so it's not necessarily like I'm coming up to play (in a game), but it's more for my growth and development … It's a day-by-day process. I know Rome's not going to be built in a day, but just if I can get a little bit better every single day, that's all that matters."
JOE WERNER FROM WEST HENRIETTA, NY: Joe Greene's Wikipedia page states that he is one of 4 people outside the Rooney family to have Super Bowl rings from all 6 Steelers victories. Who are the other 3?
ANSWER: In addition to Joe Greene, I believe the other 3 are Bill Nunn, Geraldine Glenn, a long-time ticket manager, and Bob McCartney, a long-time Video Director.
ERIC ASH FROM LAS VEGAS, NV: If I understand the Halo Rule correctly, the punting team has to give the punt returner a 2-yard cushion to catch the ball. It looks to me that a lot of punt returners have someone almost in their face when they catch the ball. Is this one of those rules that isn't enforced "except when it is?"
ANSWER: There is no "halo rule" in the NFL. The punt team cannot contact the returner in any way before he catches the ball, or it's a penalty.
TERRY HALUPA FROM AIKEN, SC: I keep hearing about how many picks the Steelers have in the 2026 Draft. Do they have enough draft capital to move up in the first round and possibly get the next franchise QB that we need?
ANSWER: That's something we won't know until the time comes. But I do believe stockpiling draft capital through this trading deadline was done so that when April 2026 rolls around, the Steelers will have some ammunition to move up to draft a quarterback without having to mortgage the future to do so. If that's what they decide to do.
