STEELERS NEWS Former Steelers CB Seeking Retaliation Against Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are dealing with a litany of injuries in the secondary, including standout rookie Devon Witherspoon, who has a hip injury. Witherspoon has a hip injury that kept him out against the Titans, and head coach Pete Carroll seemed to be concerned about the injury and its prognosis for the future.
While Tariq Woolen, Coby Bryant, and Michael Jackson help as well, Witherspoon’s injury allowed a role for a familiar face. It’s former Steelers first-round pick Artie Burns who has stepped up in the slot without Witherspoon. He had eight tackles against the Tennessee Titans in their 20-17 win. Burns has transformed his career from one that started out as a player who was labeled a bust, and has turned into an ideal special teamer and dependable backup in Seattle.
In the last two weeks, Burns has allowed six receptions on seven targets for 50 yards. He has not allowed a touchdown and is limiting yards after the catch. And at the very least, he is giving the Seahawks the competitive reps they need, but a game against his former team the Steelers presents a unique opportunity for Burns to make a little bit of a statement to the team who drafted him.
Burns, 28, was the Steelers’ first-round draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, but he lost his starting job in Pittsburgh by the end of his tenure, which triggered the Steelers to decline the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. They let him walk, and he signed with the Bears. Burns suffered a torn ACL in Chicago but was able to battle in Seattle’s training camp and earn a roster spot for the last two seasons.
His rookie season in 2016 was a bright spot in a lackluster tenure in Pittsburgh. He played in all 16 games and made 65 tackles, 52 solo and also made 3 interceptions.
Burns started all 16 games as a second-year player in 2017, but in 2018, he was supplanted by veteran Coty Sensabaugh, and in 2019, the Steelers acquired Steven Nelson as a free agent, leaving Burns with minimal playing time. In 2019, he played in 10 games and made one start, recording a total of just eight tackles.
Diontae Johnson and George Pickens will be instrumental, as always, in helping the Steelers win against the Seahawks. Their battle with Burns is one to watch in a must-win game for Pittsburgh.
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Steelers’ George Pickens Gets Painfully Honest on Mason Rudolph Connection
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens admitted that he didn’t know how much backup quarterback Mason Rudolph would utilize him in their Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, the wideout trusted his QB and had only one thing in his mind throughout: make the best play whenever the ball is heading his way.
That is exactly what Pickens did as he recorded one of his best games of the season on Saturday. Despite having just four catches, he made every one of it count, tallying 195 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers went away with the 34-11 victory.
One of the highlights of the game for Pickens was his 86-yard catch-and-run touchdown in just the team’s second play from scrimmage, allowing the Steelers to set the tone offensively en route to the dominant win.
After the game, George Pickens was asked about his connection with Mason Rudolph, who was making his first start of the season and first since 2021 amid Kenny Pickett’s injury and Mitchell Trubisky’s struggles. Pickens then confessed that he was only hoping that his QB would give him a “chance”–emphasizing that he didn’t know to whom Rudolph would throw at all.
“I was just hoping he’d give me a chance,” Pickens revealed, via Brenna White of NFL.com. “You never know where he’ll throw the ball, so I didn’t have a full idea. But anytime he throwing the ball, I’m going to try to make the best play.”
Pickens was full of compliments for Rudolph and his ability to make big plays, however. The 22-year-old wideout shared that he has always known what his QB is capable of, and he simply trusted him to deliver the ball onto his hands.
Aside from their 86-yard play in the first quarter, the duo connected for another deep pass in the third quarter, culminating to a 66-yard touchdown.
“Mason’s always been doing that. Kind of like how I said about Mitch, about KP he was behind Mitch. Those guys, they always follow their job and do their role pretty good and Mason’s been doing that the whole time,” added Pickens, who was on the headlines for the wrong reasons recently.
It’s definitely great to see both Pickens and Rudolph build an early connection like they did on Saturday. Sure enough, that will be crucial as the Pittsburgh Steelers attempt to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Mason Rudolph Has High Praise of Pittsburgh Steelers WR George Pickens As Well
George Pickens isn’t the only one with high praises for his Pittsburgh Steelers teammate, though. Mason Rudolph reciprocated the respect and admiration he got, as he highlighted how impactful Pickens was in the win over the Bengals.
Rudolph was happy with his connection with Pickens, especially in their first touchdown in the game that really got them going.
“A fast start. No matter whether you’re in high school, college or pro, it makes a difference,” Rudolph shared. “And especially when we’re at this venue at home, gets the crowd into it. To get a guy like George going early. His run-after-catch ability is just second to none, so it was a pretty cool view as I tried to chase him down from behind.”
Hopefully, Rudolph and Pickens can replicate that success come Week 17 when they play the Seattle Seahawks.
