Wednesday, November 13

Ready for physical football: When Patrick Queen first saw the Steelers 2024 schedule, the first thing he did was circle the Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium.

It would be Queen's first game against his former team, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft and he spent four seasons with.

But since then, while the game still brings about strong feelings for him, things have changed some.

"You get over all that stuff and you just play football," said Queen. "You go out there each game and take it one game at a time and just play football.

"I mean, I do have feelings about it, but at the same time it's just another game that we need. At the end of the day, anybody in my position would have the same feelings that I have. I am not going to make it anything more than it is. I just want to help my team the best that I can."

Queen started every game with the Ravens since he was drafted, a total of 67, and had 453 tackles, including 296 solo stops. He had 37 tackles for a loss, 13.5 sacks, 33 quarterback hits, four interceptions, and 15 passes defensed. He also had five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries, including one he returned for a touchdown.

In 2023 Queen had a career-high 133 tackles, as well as a career best 84 solo stops. He had nine tackles for a loss, three and a half sacks, six passes defensed, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

He was an Associated Press second-team All-Pro selection last season, as well as selected for the Pro Bowl Games.

The Ravens declined to pick up Queen's fifth-year option, making him a free agent in March and the Steelers pounced.

"I am happy to be here," said Queen. "I wasn't offered to go back. I wasn't wanted back.

"It was kind of upsetting. At the end of the day, the first few months, you go through those feelings.

"After playing games, you just want to win with your teammates, bond with those guys. I will have feelings. Anybody in my position would this week. Just take it one day at a time and whatever happens, happens."

Queen is obviously well-versed in the rivalry, understanding how both sides operate. And he doesn't expect it to change.

"Two places that know how to play great football, physical football, bloody football," said Queen. "A whole lot of trash talk. A whole lot of hitting. That's basically it. It's not going to be a lot of trick stuff going on. It's going to be football plays. We are going to line up and see who lasts the longest.

"We understand what type of football is going to be played. Practice is going to be more intense. Meetings are going to be more intense. Everybody is going to be locked in. Coaches are going to have the game plan and lay it down. The first thing they start off with is how physical it is in the AFC North and it comes down to these two teams winning the division.

"Everybody understands their role in this rivalry."

Getting a feel for it: Rookie Beanie Bishop hasn't had the opportunity yet to get the full history of the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, but there is one thing he knows.

"It's hatred," said Bishop.

Bishop, who has plans to talk to former Ravens linebacker and current teammate Patrick Queen about the rivalry, is pumped for his first AFC North team and knows to expect the unexpected.

"It's going to be a chippy game," said Bishop. "No love lost. I'll probably talk to PQ (Queen) a little bit more about it since he obviously was on the other side of the rivalry. Just talk to guys who have been here a while, like Cam (Heyward). I saw Ike Taylor earlier, talk to him. Just being able to talk to those guys and just get some knowledge."

While Bishop still plans to learn more about the rivalry, he compared it to one he experience in college while at West Virigina.

"I feel that it's kind of similar to the West Virginia-Pitt rivalry," said Bishop.

No doubt Bishop and the Steelers defense will be tested by Ravens' all-everything quarterback Lamar Jackson, a player Coach Mike Tomlin refers to as Mr. Jackson simply out of respect for him.

And Bishop shares that respect. He grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, watching Jackson shine as a college player at the University of Louisville. He even had the opportunity to meet Jackson when he was being recruited by Louisville.

"He was at Louisville while I was in high school," said Bishop. "I got to see him have his coming out party against Kentucky his freshman year.

"Being a fan of him, but obviously being a competitor, I have to turn that off and go out there and compete against them. But after the game, it'll be cool to talk to him. I got videos of being with him and stuff when I went on a visit to Louisville."

Also being a competitor, Bishop welcomes the challenge of going against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL not just this year, but through the years.

"Obviously, you don't go to the NFL to go against guys that didn't make it to the NFL and whatnot," said Bishop. "You want to go against and compete against the best and ultimately end up going to the Super Bowl to be the best team."

New and learning: There are a lot of newcomers to the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, but two who are as new as they come to it are Preston Smith and Mike Williams, both acquired last week ahead of the trade deadline.

But as the saying goes, they are new, but they are learning.

Smith said he watched Steelers-Ravens games in the past, enjoying some of the fierce defensive battles he saw.

"Of course I've seen games on TV," said Smith. "I grew up a football fan watching some NFL football, so I know what this rivalry consisted of. Back in the day, I don't want to date myself, but watching Ray Lewis and Troy Polamalu play, and seeing both sides of the ball and those guys playing and the battle and to see how the game turned out.

"It was really exciting to see. I'm just excited to get out there and play in this rivalry."

Williams said he was informed right after the Commanders game by a member of the strength and conditioning staff how physical and intense the Steelers-Ravens rivalry is, but he is still learning it as the week goes on.

"He said the Ravens game, it's like a real rivalry. It's closest thing to a college atmosphere," said Williams. "I guess big time players got to make big time plays in these moments, so I'm looking forward to it.

"The opportunity to work hard this week, get the prep down pat, go out there and play fast on Sunday."

He isn't the only one looking to make plays this week to help the team.

"I'm just trying to do my part," said Smith. "Hopefully I go out there and make some exciting, historical plays to help us win a game. So, when they turn on the Steelers versus the Ravens, there are some clips of me being played there with all the legendary players from the Steelers."

Seeing both sides: If there is anyone who is going to be pumped for the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, it's going to be those who are most familiar with it.

And you can count outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon in that category.

Moon signed with the Steelers this offseason after spending the 2023 season with the Ravens.

"This is probably the best rivalry in football," said Moon. "It's always a little bit heightened, a division game. But at the same time, it's just football. And on Sundays, you have to come out week in and week out and be at your best. So that's what it's all about."

The Steelers-Ravens rivalry is one that is steeped in tradition, with players like Jerome Bettis, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward and many others being a reason the Steelers have had success.

"I think it's just the people that come before us, whether it's their team or this team," said Moon. "That's what this really is. Just great players, Hall of Fame players, gold jacket players.

"That's what it is."

The key, though, is that while it's a key rivalry, it's also one of 17 games that are all big for the Steelers.

"I feel like Mike T. is a coach that takes every game like it's the last game," said Moon. "He has great insight. He's been doing it for a really long time. He puts the game plan together, relays it to us. Like he says, he just gives capable men information and it's up to us to execute that."

Moon's role on Sunday against the Ravens could be expanded with Alex Highsmith already ruled out with an ankle injury, but whatever comes his way, he is happy to tackle it.

"I just take it one day at a time and whatever happens, happens," said Moon. "I come in and work every day just like everybody else. I just give it my best."

So nice, you can watch it twice: The Steelers 28-27 win over the Washington Commanders last Sunday was selected as one of the Week 10 Games of the Week.

As a result, fans can watch a re-airing of the game on NFL Network on Wednesday, November 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET, and Thursday, November 14 at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Keeping tabs on the moves: The Steelers signed receiver Jamal Agnew and running back Jonathan Ward to the practice squad and released offensive lineman John Leglue and receiver Lance McCutcheon from the practice squad.

Agnew is entering his eighth season in the NFL, appearing in 82 career games. He has 77 career receptions for 746 yards, a 9.7-yard average, and five touchdowns.

Agnew was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Lions, where he had 16 receptions for 105 yards.

He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021, spending three seasons there and pulling in 61 receptions for 641 yards and five touchdowns.

Agnew is also a return specialist, earning All-Pro honors in 2017 and a Pro Bowl selection in 2022.

Ward has spent time on the practice squad and active roster this season, and has five carries for 22 yards in four games.

Ward took part in the Steelers rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and was signed following it.

In five seasons in the NFL, he has played in 47 games, carrying the ball 22 times for 91 yards, a 4.1-yard average. He also has six receptions for 52 yards, an 8.7-yard average, and one touchdown.

Ward originally signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent two plus seasons with the Cardinals, before joining the Tennessee Titans during the 2022 season. He also spent the 2023 season with the Titans.

Ward played college football at Central Michigan where he played in 42 games, carrying the ball 473 times for 2,539 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also had 98 receptions for 909 yards and four touchdowns.

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