Wednesday, November 12

He hates losing: The Steelers have had their ups and downs this season, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers has often said you can't ride the rollercoaster of emotions, stressing the importance of staying even-keeled as it's a long season.

Receiver DK Metcalf agrees with that assessment.

"I think a lot of the vets have that mentality," said Metcalf. "I think a lot of young guys think it's the end of the world after you lose, which is very acceptable because you want those types of competitors in your locker room.

"But it's a long season. We've got 17 games now, but I think we just hit the halfway point. So just continue to get on the right track from this point forward. Just take it in one game at a time."

While Metcalf says all that, he is the first to admit he hates losing.

"I'm still taking losses bad," said Metcalf. "I don't talk to people much after the game, but I think that's just the way I cope with things.

"We've got a lot of competitors like that in this locker room. So, the more we hang around each other, and the more that we have each other's back out there on the field, I think the losses, the wins, and the ties are always going to be special because we can always learn from them."

Metcalf said his hate for losing is something that has always been with him, even in pee-wee football.

"I hate losing," said Metcalf.

Metcalf did say that no matter how much he does hate losing, there is still an approach you have to take.

"I think one of the biggest things is not pressing too hard because once you start losing, you try to start doing stuff that's out of the norm or out of your control," said Metcalf. "And that's when stuff starts to spiral. So just staying in the framework of who you are as a person, who you are as a player.

"Just continuing to do your job because the hard work is going to pay off. The teams that do everything the right way, execute every play, and live every play with a life of its own. Those are the things that get rewarded in the end."

The Steelers are 5-4 and in first place in the AFC North. But after going 1-2 in the last three games, Metcalf said it feels different.

"I think with the standard that we set for ourselves that it feels a lot worse when we lose than expected," said Metcalf. "So, not listening to any outside noise, continue to have each other's back.

"When we go out there and execute, nobody can stop us. Offense, defense, special teams. So just keep hammering that home that this is all we got, this is what we need and just execute the play that's called."

Thrilled to be back on the field: The Steelers signed defensive back Asante Samuel Jr. to the practice squad on Wednesday, and he said he is in the best shape of his life health-wise.

"I feel great," said Samuel. "It's the healthiest I've ever been. I feel good."

Samuel was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Chargers, starting 47 of the 50 games he played in.

Samuel appeared in only four games in 2024, finishing the season on the Reserve/Injured List, and had offseason spinal fusion surgery. He was cleared to play again in October and was thrilled to be back on the field on Wednesday.

"It meant the world to me just being out there, putting on a helmet, putting on cleats, going out there, competing with other guys that are trying to accomplish the same goal as me and just trying to win," said Samuel. "At the end of the day, it's all about winning and I know that's all it's about here, winning. It's a winning culture and I wanted to be a part of that.

"It's a great organization, great team, great guys, great coaching. There was nothing I didn't like about Pittsburgh. It's a great culture here.

"I'm glad I ended up here. I'm glad everything worked out to be here. I am blessed to be with great coaches and great teammates."

Samuel said he is ready to play if he gets a call-up from the practice squad, but is taking it one step at a time.

"It's just day-by-day," said Samuel. "I'm trying to maximize every day and do whatever the coach is telling me and just get better every day."

Getting the job done: When the Steelers took on the Bengals on Thursday Night Football less than a month ago, Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco completed 31 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns.

They aren't numbers anyone on the defense was happy with, and they know they have to turn it around this week when the Bengals come to Acrisure Stadium.

"You've got to have a lot of respect for him," said cornerback Brandin Echols. "He's been in the league for a long time.

"We're going to approach it like we approach every other game. Obviously, we've got to be better than what we did facing them last time. It's just what it is."

The defense will have more film to watch of Flacco in the Bengals offense this time around, as he was in just his second game with Cincinnati when the two teams first met.

"That plays a part in it," said Echols. "We get to see more of what he's actually capable of in their offense. We're going to act accordingly."

Echols could see more playing time against the Bengals with fellow cornerback Darius Slay in the concussion protocol, but he said that won't change his approach as he always prepares the same.

"I just try to keep it the same as I always do," said Echols. "Just focus on the main thing, try to get the job done."

The secondary the Bengals will face is one that is different than the first time, with Jalen Ramsey now at free safety full-time and Kyle Dugger at strong safety.

"We're going to go out and attack them with our best foot forward, regardless of who's where," said Echols. "It's just a matter of making plays on Sunday. That's all that is."

First time should be a charm: Within the next few weeks, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is expected to announce Modern Era Semifinalists for the Class of 2026, with multiple Steelers still in the running.

One of them is center Maurkice Pouncey.

Pouncey, who is in his first year of eligibility and a member of the Steelers Hall of Honor Class of 2025, was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, the 18th overall pick. Shortly after Pouncey arrived at Saint Vincent College for his rookie training camp, he earned the starting job, and he held it from that day until he decided to end his NFL career.

"When I think of Maurkice Pouncey, I try not to get emotional because of how much he means to me," said former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, also a member of the Hall of Honor Class of 2025. "No quarterback, no good quarterback can ever be successful without a great center. You look at (Terry) Bradshaw and (Mike) Webster and it goes down the list of all the greats that have had partnerships together. And that's what we were. We were a great team. And that line up front just revolved around him. He was the centerpiece of the wheel that went as an offensive line. I voted him as MVP every year because as a quarterback it just wasn't the same without him out there. I hated it when he couldn't practice because I didn't have my comfort blanket.

"He was a guy that just gave everything to this team, to me, to protecting me. And he put the work in, in the classroom. It was very evident. That guy was so smart. He could make every call, every change. It was like we were on the same page. Every time he would make a call, I was with him. If I made a call, we knew what each other were thinking."

In his rookie season, Pouncey would stabilize a position previously held by journeymen Sean Mahan and Justin Hartwig for a team that went on to reach Super Bowl XLV. Pouncey was unable to play in the Super Bowl after injuring an ankle in the AFC Championship Game victory over the New York Jets. He won the Joe Greene Great Performance Award that season, given annually to the team's Rookie of the Year by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America, becoming the first offensive lineman to win it since 2000.

"When you look at Maurkice Pouncey, I don't think there's any question that he is a Hall of Fame center," said Hall of Fame Coach Bill Cowher. "His ability to do what he did at a very high level for an extended period of time. The high elite offenses that he played on. He was in a long lineage of great centers with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Going back from Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, Jeff Hartings. Maurkice Pouncey once again proves that he is a legacy in the making. He's a guy that belongs in the Hall of Fame, no question about it. Not only what he did at a high level, but he did it for a long period of time on a very, very good offense. Maurkice Pouncey belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

Pouncey didn't need much time to establish himself as a starter in the NFL, and he quickly built on his growing resume. He became the first center in NFL history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons (2010-12) and went on to be a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. He was twice voted first-team Associated Press All-Pro (2011, 2014) and was a second-team AP All-Pro selection three times (2010, 2012 and 2018).

Pouncey was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-Decade team for the 2010s, an honor Steelers Hall of Fame center Mike Webster earned in the 1970s and 1980s, with a spot on an All-Decade team typically leading to being enshrined in Canton.

Pouncey was a steady leader on offense, someone who guided the younger players while still showing a shining example for even the most seasoned veterans. It was that leadership that had his teammates select him as an offensive team captain four times (2013, 2018, 2019 and 2020).

"That guy is a high energy, high effort, super smart football player," said Roethlisberger. "And I just don't think I've ever seen a lineman, especially a center like him. And that's why he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

"He's one of the best to ever do it. He's a guy that when he was out there, you knew you always had a chance. And for a quarterback to have a guy like that, that you believe in, trust in, and know that everything he does is 110%, Maurkice Pouncey is a Hall of Famer in every way."

Getting him back: The Steelers claimed safety Sebastian Castro off waivers after he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday.

Castro began the 2025 season on the Steelers practice squad, but was signed to the Buccaneers 53-man roster on Sept. 30, where he appeared in one game.

Castro originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL Draft out of Iowa.

In a related move, the Steelers waived veteran safety Juan Thornhill, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

"The play wasn't up to snuff," said Tomlin of the move. "Castro was available to us. We went through the team development process with Castro. Thought he had a good camp, good preseason.

"He played his tail off in that practice against the Bucs. I think that's why they stole him from us.

"We had an opportunity to re-acquire him. We've absorbed some attrition since he left, so it was an opportunity get him back. It's more about Castro and less about Juan."

Castro appeared in 53 games in college, starting 32. He finished his career with 163 tackles, including 113 solo tackles. He had 14 tackles for a loss, 18 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, four interceptions and two sacks.

No time for reflection: It would be understandable if Pat Freiermuth found himself especially excited about getting another chance at Cincinnati on Sunday.

It's pretty much been one big game after another of late against the Bengals for the Steelers' tight end.

"I don't know, my dad's from Cincinnati, maybe that's the reason," Freiermuth said.

Freiermuth had five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the Steelers' 33-31 loss on Oct. 16 in Cincinnati. Last season, he combined for 14 catches for 153 yards and two more scores in the two Cincinnati matchups. In 2023, there was a nine-catch, 120-yard effort against the Bengals on Nov. 26 in Cincinnati. And in 2022, Freiermuth's two games against the Bengals produced a combined 13 catches for 154 yards.

"I guess just an AFC North (Division) opponent and whatever they do schematically, maybe," Freiermuth added.

History aside, Freiermuth is looking ahead, not behind.

The Steelers are coming off a disappointing offensive effort in which they failed to convert their first nine third-down attempts in succession on the way to a 25-10 loss to the Chargers last Sunday night in Los Angeles.

"Obviously, we're not looking in the past," Freiermuth said. "We had a hell of a game against the Colts (a 27-20 win on Nov. 2). We just went out on Sunday Night Football and just didn't play well.

"We've played well in previous games, no one's panicking. We just have to continue to work and be able to put together a good game on Sunday."

Despite losing three of four, the Steelers lead the AFC North at 5-4.

"We just need to play better team football and we'll be alright moving forward," Freiermuth emphasized. "We have the right guys in the locker room to get this thing going in the right direction. We're still in the lead in the division and we know what this game means on Sunday, it's very important. We're working this week to get it fixed.

"No one's looking in the past. We just have to continue to look forward and work."

Cleaning up third down is on the agenda against the Bengals after the Steelers finished 2-for-11 in that department (18.2 percent) in Los
Angeles.

"Lack of detail and just being able to execute what we're being asked to execute," Freiermuth said. "We'll get it fixed."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

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