Tuesday, November 26

Focused on the small things: Receiver Calvin Austin is one of only two Steelers who have made their way into the end zone in the last two games, scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Browns.

But he isn't worried about the lack of red zone efficiency.

In the loss to the Browns last Thursday night, the Steelers were 1 for 2 in the red zone, while in the win over the Ravens they were 0-4.

"It's just focusing on ourselves and details, small things, execution," said Austin. "That's been our primary focus this week.

"Obviously when you don't execute it is usually something that you're doing. Defenses obviously have a great game plan, and sometimes a bend but don't break defense. But at the end of the day when you look back at it, if we're kicking field goals and not getting points, it's always something that we're doing. It's something that can be fixed."

While they didn't come out with the ultimate goal of a victory against the Browns, getting the ball in the end zone in the fourth quarter was a key.

"You can look back at those plays and see how everybody executed," said Austin. "A lot of times when you see those plays happen, it comes from every guy doing their assignment. Nothing really too crazy or anything.

"Obviously you have those big time plays and stuff, but sometimes just doing the simple things, doing your 1/11th, doing everything correct and getting the job done."

Getting the job done will be a key this week as the Cincinnati Bengals are a team that is looking to get back in the win column after losing the last two games.

"They've got a good pass rush," said Austin. "We always just focus on ourselves. Obviously, every defense is going to present some type of challenge. We know if we execute, whatever defense, whatever challenge it is, we'll be ready."

Hoping to be back: After missing the last two games with an ankle injury, linebacker Alex Highsmith is hoping to be back on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

But, despite the desire to return, there is nothing definitive yet and it might be a few more days until his status is confirmed.

"I think later this week, Thursday, Friday it's going to really be more determined what I'll be able to do," said Highsmith. "I'm just progressing every day. My goal is to be back, it's an AFC North battle so I am eager to try to get back out there.

"I've just got to be confident and make sure that I can play on it. So, I'm just getting better every day."

Having his back: While many have tried to come down hard on offensive tackle Broderick Jones for penalties that have been called against him this year, Coach Mike Tomlin has always had his second-year starter's back.

And for good reason.

Tomlin knows what Jones is capable of.

"He's a young guy," said Tomlin of Jones, who is 23-years old. "He's younger than the rookies at his position, to put perspective on it. He's got growth in all areas ahead of him, but he also has an awesome skill set. We're experiencing some bumps and bruises associated with on-the-job training. I have no intentions of blinking, and neither does he, and we'll just keep working."

Knowing Tomlin has his back is something that gives Jones that extra push, something that makes him keep fighting.

"It's just something to continue to build off of," said Jones. "As long as you keep pushing, that one percent each and every day. Everything's not going to be perfect. Even though we're chasing to be perfect, nothing's going to be perfect.

"But at the end of the day, Coach T(omlin) always tells me he has tremendous faith in me and believes in me. I feel like I can do anything coming from Coach T. I feel like it gives me a little bit more confidence. I always had confidence within myself. But just hearing him say that it gives me a little bit of an extra boost. It's just good knowing he has my back."

And the entire line has each other's backs. It's a unit that works as one, and that is something that Jones knows has to be a focus this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

One area where Jones knows work needs to be done is with the struggles getting into the red zone, coming away with seven points and not three on offensive drives.

In the win over the Ravens the Steelers only points came off of six Chris Boswell field goals. The offense didn't get the ball into the end zone against the Browns until the fourth quarter, after being kept out for seven straight quarters.

"Honestly, it's just us not executing," said Jones. "All 11 guys being on the same page. We've just got to do a better job with that because if we can get down in the red zone, we can push through the red zone. That's honestly how I feel about it.

"I'm pretty sure everybody feels the same way around here about it because we know the talent we have, and we know what we're capable of. We've just got to continue to get better in that aspect of football. I think that's one of our main focuses this week. So, I'm excited to see what it looks like on Sunday."

Jones said it's a similar story with their struggles in short yardage, everyone working as one to make things work.

"It's the same thing," said Jones. "It's all 11 guys being on the same page at the same time and executing. I feel like that's all it is.

"Football is about runs just like any sport. You're going to have your ups and downs, the trials and tribulations. You've just got to continue. As long as everybody's on the same page, I feel like we'll be all right in the long run.

"This is the time to do it, get everything right for everybody to be on the same page, make that run at the end. That's what I'm looking forward to."

Perspective on records: The Steelers' loss last Thursday in Cleveland was their third to a team entering Week 13 with a sub-.500 record (the 5-7 Colts, the 4-7 Cowboys and the 3-8 Browns).

Of the Steelers' eight victories, conversely, five have been achieved against teams that would reach the postseason if the playoffs started today (the 6-5 Falcons, the 7-5 Broncos, the 7-4 Chargers, the 7-5 Commanders and the 8-4 Ravens).

That doesn't necessarily add up, unless you factor in what defensive tackle and defensive captain Cam Heyward considers the handful of plays that invariably prove most impactful in any game.

In Cleveland, that came down to, among other things, a three-phase failure to make a play that needed to be made late. The offense couldn't convert a third-and-4 with an opportunity to move the chains and run out the clock. The special teams responded with a 15-yard punt. And the defense allowed a conversion on fourth-and-3 on the way to surrendering the game-winning touchdown.

"We just didn't make enough of those critical plays in those moments," Heyward lamented.

For the Steelers, those were atypical results in what head coach Mike Tomlin likes to refer to as the "weighty downs."

"We've stepped up in those critical moments," Heyward continued. "But on the flip side, those three losses we've had, we haven't had those moments. We're trying to change that where, no matter what team, we gotta have those winning moments."

Next up is a game at Cincinnati against the 4-7 Bengals, whose lineup includes the NFL's leading receiver (wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, 1,056 receiving yards), the NFL's sacks leader (defensive end Trey Hendrickson, with 11.5) and quarterback Joe Burrow (third in the NFL with 3,028 passing yards and tied for the league lead with 27 touchdown passes).

"I think we're playing a really good team," Heyward maintained. "The roster is very good. And you look at their losses, they come down to those critical moments."

Among the Bengals' seven setbacks are a one-point loss to 10-1 Kansas City, an overtime loss and a one-point loss to Baltimore, a five-point loss to Washington and a seven point loss to the Chargers.

The winning points in the Chargers game, Cincinnati's most recent action on Nov. 17 in Los Angeles, were scored with 18 seconds left in regulation. It's no wonder Heyward anticipates another tight game coming up on Sunday at Paycor Stadium, one destined to be decided by a handful of critical snaps.

"The team that dominates that and gets off the field or scores in those moments is going to win that game," Heyward said.

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

Practice squad update: The Steelers signed linebacker Julius Welschof to the practice squad.

Welschof was signed originally signed by the team as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft.

He started at defensive end for Charlotte but had his 2023 season cut short due to injury, playing in four games. He began his career at Michigan where he played in 35 games. In 2022 he played in all 14 games.

He is from Miesbach, Bavaria, Germany.

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