Go hard, or...: Joey Porter Jr. is bringing a mindset to Saturday's game against the Bengals that has him in the holiday movie spirit. 

That is, if you are among those who believe 'Die Hard' is a Christmas movie. 

"Go hard or die trying," Porter told me. "This is it. This is all the marbles. We have to put it all out there and win out."

It should come as no surprise that is Porter's approach. It's who he is, it's who he has always been.  

He knows what is at stake this week and he knows it's a must to turn things around. 

"We just have to continue to believe in the process and the coaching," said Porter. "That is the biggest thing. We have to stick to what got us here. 

"Before the three-game losing streak, we were coming off a big win against Cincy. I feel like the defense was at a high at that point. We have to get back to that point. 

"It's not far off, because we were just there. It's nothing different. We have some people that are banged up. If we believe in the scheme and run fast, we will be all right."

Getting back to that point is something Porter is confident they can do. 

"Everybody has to be all in and sold on the same thing," said Porter. "Like I have been saying all season…communication. That is the biggest part. Especially when you have bodies not here and new guys that are learning the defense. Communication has to be at an all-time high.

"Since I have known the Steelers, it's been the next man up mentality. I feel like we've got the guys that are able to do that, and we can hold up.

"We just have to communicate well. We have to trust each other, understand what TA (Teryl Austin) is trying to put us in and execute. That's all that is."

The player Porter will have to execute against this week is Bengals receiver Tee Higgins, especially with Ja'Marr Chase dealing with a shoulder injury. Higgins has 36 receptions for 497 yards and four touchdowns and Porter is looking forward to facing the talented receiver. 

"I didn't get to go against him last time," said Porter. "I obviously watched his tape when I was in college, and he was in college. I am excited. I always look for the top guys and he is one of those guys."

Team player: With the Steelers dealing with injuries and the suspension of Damontae Kazee at the safety position, veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson hasn't been shy about his willingness to step into the safety spot to help the team.

And that unselfishness isn't lost on his teammates.

"It's awesome," said linebacker T.J. Watt. "For a guy like that to just jump into the role and have no complaints about it, that's a true team player. A guy that's going to be a Hall of Famer at corner, moved back to safety, is being a team player.

"It was funny to see him in the shoulder pads this week, but that's just the mentality that he has. We're going to need him to make some big plays for us. And I'm excited to see him in the box."

The key this week is to have everyone step up and do their job with safety Minkah Fitzpatrick ruled out with a knee injury and other issues at the spot.

Watt has confidence in the next man up mentality.

"Anytime we lose anybody it's difficult, but a core defender who is vocal makes things a little bit more, especially when we're going to be at home and hand signals are going to be huge," said Watt. "The communication aspect of things, the defense. I feel like I repeat myself every week just because of the situation we've been in with losing guys. But like I said, guys that have been here will continue to educate and help the guys that are stepping into those roles. We're going to play sound defense and that's what it's going to take."

Heyward cleared, ready to go: Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward was cleared through the NFL's concussion protocol on Thursday and will play in Saturday's crucial game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium.

"I feel better than I did," Heyward said Thursday. "It kind of sprung on at the end of the game. I was just out of it. But I'm feeling good now.

"I kind of just took the double and I just took the brunt of it. Both sides of my head and then was just not feeling right after that. I checked myself with the doctors and then they put me into protocol from there."

The Steelers could certainly use Heyward in this game against the Bengals, especially with safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick out with a knee injury and Damontae Kazee serving a season-ending suspension for a hit on Indianapolis wide receiver Michael Pittman.

Coupled with the losses of inside linebackers Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander to injuries recently, the Steelers are down several starters in the middle of the field.

"Injuries are part of the game. Obviously we'd like to have Mink, like to have Kazee out there. You'd like to have your inside linebackers," Heyward said. "But you know, I can't cry about spoiled milk. You just have got to bounce back and be ready for the group. That puts more emphasis on the front to get home."

With the Steelers mired in a three-game losing streak, there has been plenty of noise with people questioning the team's preparation, camaraderie, desire and, well, everything.

Heyward, the team's eldest statesman, isn't having any of that.

"Everybody likes to make a big deal about it," Heyward said. "But for someone to have an opinion that doesn't know what's going on in here, I just, I kind of laugh at that because it's about being with the group, understanding that the Steelers are Steelers because they care about each other. And that it's not one guy. When we win, everybody wins. 

"I know these last three games have not gone the way we want. And it's been hard. But it's about your practice habits. It's about dedicating your life to this game, and we can't run away it. But you have got to have those hard times and those hard conversations…. We have got to get this losing taste out. of our mouth and just get the work. We understand this is our last home game. And we're trying to make the most of the things."

-- Blog entry by Dale Lolley

Do the math: The Steelers blocked another punt last Saturday in Indianapolis, which means the punt-block team found another way to beat the odds.

Steelers safety and special teams captain Miles Killebrew has a unique appreciation for the degree of difficulty involved. 

"Do you know how rare they are?" Killebrew asked regarding blocked punts. "I'll paint you a picture. Last year there were 2,188 punts. The year before that there were 2,066. Both years there were 12 blocked punts in each year. That's a 0.5-percent chance on any given play that you block a punt. That's nuts, it's astronomical, it doesn't make any sense.

"The fact that we're lining up expecting to get it every single time defies odds, and I wouldn't want to do it with any other group."

The Steelers' second blocked punt of the season occurred on the first play of the second quarter, fourth-and-10 from the Indianapolis 25-yard line.

The design of the rush wound up providing tight end Connor Heyward a lane up the middle of a line that included safety Damontae Kazee, linebackers Nick Herbig and Kyron Johnson, Heyward, Killebrew, tight end Rodney Williams, running back Godwin Igwebuike and wide receiver Miles Boykin. Cornerbacks James Pierre and Chandon Sullivan were lined up wide opposite the gunners. Wide receiver Calvin Austin III was deep as the return man.

Heyward blocked Rigoberto Sanchez' punt and Herbig recovered the ball inside the Colts' 1-yard line. 

"That was a designed play," Killebrew said. "My guy Connor with the block. (Special teams coordinator) Danny Smith with the scheme. We're drawing them up and we're trying to get them.

"We want one every game. We have three games left, we want three more."

The Steelers found the end zone two plays after Heyward's block on a 4-yard pass from quarterback Mitch Trubisky to wide receiver Diontae Johnson. The touchdown and kicker Chris Boswell's extra point gave the Steelers a 13-0 lead.

Killebrew blocked a punt that resulted in a safety on Oct. 8 against the Ravens. Cornerback Patrick Peterson blocked an extra point on Nov. 12 against the Packers.

"We want splash on our special teams, we're going after it," Killebrew insisted. "I want to get Calvin in the end zone. I want to get our return men in the end zone, that's what we all want. We want to block more punts. Let's see if we can get two a game.

"That's just where we're at. We want to help our team win by any means. We want to finish this year with three wins in these next three weeks and we want special teams to contribute to that."

Killebrew also interrupted a punt on Dec. 7 against the Patriots, but since the ball wound up traveling past the line of scrimmage the play was officially classified as an 11-yard punt, not a block.  

"The ball hit my chest then it hit the ground, it's a blocked punt," Killebrew insisted. "I don't care what the nerds (at NFL headquarters) in New York say, it's a block."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

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Wednesday, December 20

Time to lean in: Allen Robinson II knows about handling adversity.

And he has received lessons from some of the best.

Including Doc Rivers, the former NBA player and coach.

When Robinson played for the Chicago Bears, Rivers, who at the time was the coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, was invited to speak to the team virtually about facing adversity, especially when everyone was dealing with Covid restrictions in the 2020 offseason and meetings weren't in person. Rivers grew up a Bears fan and was happy to do so.

It was something that stuck with Robinson and still helps him today as the Steelers are dealing with their own adversity during a three-game losing streak.

"I just think leaning in," said Robinson. "I was on a team before, and we had a coach, Doc Rivers, talk to us and give us a story. He talked about handling adversity.

"I think the only thing you can do as a group is lean in. That takes everybody. The only way the needle can change is everybody leaning in, everybody doing a little bit extra. Everybody locking in on how we can better at different aspects of our game."

Robinson said he has seen people doing just that, making sure everybody is on the same page.

"You do see it," said Robinson. "I think the main encouragement is it's a long season. We have a process of trying to get better each and every day. That is the only way to be able to continue to sustain success and be able to battle back is trying to improve at different things.

"Even though it might be some small, incremental improvements, that is necessary in professional football."

Robinson knows they have to do everything they can this week with another change at quarterback, with Mason Rudolph the third starting quarterback in four games for the team.

"As a receiver, luckily the way Coach T (Mike Tomlin) has done the development process of OTAs and training camp, we have been able to get the experience of all of those guys and the open communication we have had," said Robinson. "If Kenny (Pickett) is in, you still get communication from Mitch (Trubisky) or Mason on what they see.

"For us, it's not crazy. We are professionals. As receivers and an offense, we all have jobs to do. That doesn't dictate who is throwing the ball and under center. It's about us going out there and making sure we are doing our job to the best of our ability and making the job easy for who is under center."

Tomlin wants continued growth from Pickens: There has been a lot of talk this week regarding George Pickens for failing to hold a block on a run to the one-yard line in last week's loss at Indianapolis, something the Steelers' second-year wide receiver said on Tuesday he did because he didn't want to open himself up to a potential injury.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday that the 22-year-old remains a work in progress both on and off the football field, and the play and how Pickens detailed it with the media are part of that process.

"George is a talented guy. But he's growing and growing in a lot of ways in regards to football and life," Tomlin said. "We don't run away from that; we run to that organizationally when we draft guys. We are committed to being a component of their growth and development in all areas. And as I mentioned earlier this week he is very much a work in progress. And so it is continual. It's not going to be one incident, or one meeting or one form of discipline. That's going to institute the type of change that we're hunting to be quite honest with you. It is going to be continual. He is aware of that.

"We meet on a routine basis. We met last Wednesday, he and I met again today."

A second-round pick out of Georgia in 2022, Pickens leads the Steelers in receptions and receiving yards. But he's also learning how to be a professional football player and everything that entails, according to Tomlin.

"I would like him to be more professional in terms of addressing some of his shortcomings with you guys to to further add fluidity to the process," said Tomlin, who added he will not bench Pickens and will keep any punishment in-house. "He's not helping himself. He's not helping the process in the manner in which he's dealt with (the media.) But the manner in which he deals with (the media) is not necessarily the manner in which he deals with us or himself regarding acknowledging where he is and where he needs to go. And so, I just wanted to say that largely, I like to keep his growth and development and things regarding his growth and development private, then aid in the process or or speed up the process.

"But rest assured there's a commitment here not only from us, but from him in terms of growing demand and a play."

-- Blog entry by Dale Lolley

Ready to be back: Defensive back Elijah Riley returned to practice on Tuesday but remains on the Reserve/Injured List.

The Steelers have a 21-day window to either activate him to the 53-man roster, or he remains on the Reserve/Injured List the remainder of the year.

"It felt good," said Riley of being back. "I missed being out there on the field with the guys. That is probably the biggest part of why I enjoy the sport, being out there with dudes I care about and playing ball." 

Riley is hoping the week goes well and he will back sooner rather than later, especially with the team dealing with issues at the safety position, including Minkah Fitzpatrick's knee injury that has him ruled out this week and Damontae Kazee suspended for the remainder of the season. 

"God has a funny way of working. Divine timing," said Riley. "You never want to see guys go down or Kazee's situation take place. 

"But the timing of it just works out. I am on the mend, ready to get back to playing. The space is open for me to step up and help this team out." 

Just the thought of playing this week against the Bengals had Riley smiling from ear to ear. 

"I am looking forward to it," said Riley. "It's been four weeks. It's too long. I am ready to go."

Wanting his shot: On Monday, Coach Mike Tomlin indicated linebacker Myles Jack could be part of the solution to injuries on defense.

Jack, who is on the practice squad, would love for that to be the case. 

Jack spent the 2022 season with the Steelers but was released in the offseason. He was signed to the practice squad a month ago, on Nov. 20, and feels like he is ready to go. 

"They have done a good job, have a good plan with me just getting a lot of reps and working scout team defense and then mixing in with the base defense," said Jack. "I feel like I am in good shape. I have had some time. I am very excited if they call my number to get in."

When Jack was signed last month he was out of football at that point, and while he was in shape, he admits getting into football shape was the key. 

"Football shape is different, especially when these guys get April to June, and then they get the whole summer, and then they are in mid-season form," said Jack. "Me trying to catch up to them is a tough task. 

"But I have been able to accomplish that. The training staff got me ready, so I am very excited."

No excuses: The defensive lineup may be in a state of flux with regard to who's playing inside linebacker next to Elandon Roberts and who's lining up at safety behind him, but Roberts is adamant his job hasn't changed.

"My job is to communicate, play well for the defense, make sure that we're in the best position as a defense, make sure we're all on the same page," Roberts maintained after practice today. "Obviously, during practice week those guys are next to me so I'm able to feel those guys, they prepare hard. I have full confidence with who's next to me.

"It's our job as a collective, as all 11 to be on the same page no matter who's in there. Obviously, when it happens in the game, it's a little, you know what I'm saying? But when you get a week to really just communicate with different guys, they know the language, they know what you're thinking, being able to just stay in the building longer, even after practice.

"This doesn't stop once practice is over. Our group does a great job, because we have great leaders all around, of staying a little later or getting in a little earlier just to make sure we're all on the same page."

The Steelers used Roberts, Mykal Walker, Mark Robinson and safety Trenton Thompson at inside linebacker last Saturday in Indianapolis. Damontae Kazee, Minkah Fitzpatrick, cornerback Patrick Peterson, Miles Killebrew and Thompson took snaps at safety against the Colts. More new faces may be deployed at both positions this Saturday against Cincinnati.

"(Inside linebacker) Myles Jack and (safety) Eric Rowe are two guys with defensive playing experience that are a strong consideration given some things that are going on," head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday. Both are currently on the practice squad.

"I think the whole league has that type of attrition," Roberts continued. "It's a long season. We can't use it for an excuse. Obviously, our fans and the media don't care. We have to just focus up and come out there and do our best to be victorious.

"I think we have a good mindset going into this week. As a matter of fact I know we have a good mindset going into this week. We're ready to get back out there as a team. We just have to consistently go from meetings to the practice field, do it every day, going into the game. From a team standpoint we just have to continue to take the classroom to the practice field and then on game day, just be ready to go."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

Pro Bowl voting is underway: Voting is now open for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, the second year for the new-look games.

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Cast your votes today.

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-->> Vote for Steelers players for the Pro Bowl Games

During the final two weeks of voting (Dec. 11 – Dec. 25), fans can vote directly on "X" (formerly Twitter) by tweeting the first and last name of the player, tagging the player's official Twitter handle or creating a hashtag including the player's first and last name. All three of these methods must include the hashtag: #ProBowlVote. During the final two days (Dec. 24 – Dec. 25), social votes will count as double.

Bringing you the action: For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place. Start your free trial today here.

Tuesday, December 19

Getting a win: Having lost their last three games, there is only one way tight end Pat Freiermuth sees the black and gold getting out of where they are. 

"Getting a win," said Freiermuth. "That is basically it."

To do that, there is work to be done, things to clean up. 

"Penalties, execution, just some of the stuff that we have talked about," said Freiermuth. "We have to figure it out this week because it's getting narrow. 

"A win and doing what we need to do is going to solve a lot." 

The Steelers will try and get that win with Mason Rudolph at quarterback this week. And Freiermuth feels good about what he brings.  

"He brings consistency," said Freiermuth. "What Coach (Mike) T(omlin) said yesterday was spot on. He has been here for six years. He knows what's going on. He knows what we're trying to execute. 

"I am excited to see what he can do."

Confidence in Mason: Coach Mike Tomlin said after the team's loss to the Colts that they were going to do things differently this week, and he held to his promise when he made a change at the starting quarterback spot.

Tomlin said they are proceeding forward with Mason Rudolph as the starter, replacing Mitch Trubisky, who was under center for the majority of the last three games following the injury to Kenny Pickett. 

While Tomlin said he will leave the door ajar for Pickett, right now all eyes are pointing towards Rudolph and his teammates feel good about it. 

"I'm real familiar with Mason," said receiver Diontae Johnson. "We have been here together since I came in. He is a year ahead of me. 

"He brings that grit that you are looking for, that he is not going to give up. He is going to come in and do his job at 100 percent.

"I have full confidence in Mason that he is going to come in and do his job and get everybody the ball. It's our job on the outside to rally around him.

"I know Mason is going to come in here and do his job. He has always done that. I got that from my rookie year when we played together. I have full confidence in him, and I am ready."

Johnson said it's easy to do that just seeing how Rudolph has handled himself the last few seasons when he hasn't seen any game action. 

"I know it's tough on him, seeing him go through that every day," said Johnson. "Not saying anything. Head down just working. Coming to work. Talking to everybody like nothing is bothering him. 

"That makes me keep going too. If he can do it, I can do it. I look at him and that gives me motivation."

Johnson knows the Steelers need a spark to get out of the three-game losing streak they are currently in, and he feels confident that Tomlin's decision to make the switch will work for the team. 

"Right now, we are just trying to win," said Johnson. "It's Coach T's decision who is at quarterback this week. I am all for it. No matter who is at quarterback, I am going to make sure I do my job to the best of my ability. My job this week is to get him prepared and get the timing down with everybody and get ready for Saturday."

Johnson said right now the main focus for everyone is trying to figure out how to get back in the win column, starting on Saturday. 

"We are trying to figure it out, how to win these last three games," said Johnson. "That's all there is to it. There is not really anything else to think about. How are we going to win these last three games and get into the playoffs. 

"That is all we are worried about."

Ready if needed: The safety position will likely look a whole lot different on Saturday when the Steelers take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium. 

Minkah Fitzpatrick has already been ruled out with a knee injury and Damontae Kazee has been suspended by the NFL for the remainder of the season based on a hit from the Colts game. 

With that in mind, the team will be looking for help in other areas, and veteran Eric Rowe is expected to be among those who step up. 

He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has since spent time with the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins and most recently the Carolina Panthers.

He played in 62 games with 38 starts. He amassed 300 tackles, including six tackles for a loss, three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and two sacks. 

He wasn't playing when he got the call from the Steelers to sign to the practice squad on Nov. 20, and has been preparing to get on the field ever since. 

"The only thing that takes time is getting the terms down, the communication," said Rowe. "Every defense uses different term names, just getting that down, playing that in your mind, getting a couple of reps at it and just get it."

Rowe knows it's going to be a challenge to have a depleted safety spot, but he is ready to do his part. 

"It's definitely a challenge," said Rowe. "You have to overcome it. I am still the new guy. I haven't played with any of them, and we are in December. December football is playoff time. You have to pick it up quickly. Every team has its challenges, and this is one of them. 

"For me to get out there, help the team win, not just for playoffs, but just for this team, this brand. It's an opportunity for me to help this team."

Safety first: After dabbling at safety occasionally over the course of the Steelers' first 13 games, cornerback Patrick Peterson got regular work at the position once the Steelers lost safety Damontae Kazee (to ejection) and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (to injury) on consecutive snaps midway through the second quarter last Saturday in Indianapolis.

It's a temporary new home for Peterson in the secondary with Fitzpatrick (knee) ruled out for this Saturday's game against Cincinnati and Kazee suspended for the remainder of the season.

"That was my first time really getting some real quality safety reps last week against the Colts," Peterson said. "I felt pretty good, honestly. Coach Grady (secondary coach Brown) and Coach (Mike) Tomlin did a great job of putting me in position throughout OTAs, minicamp, training camp to make sure if this opportunity did present itself, I wouldn't be out there running around with a chicken with my head cut off.

"I feel pretty comfortable back there. The visual is a little bit different. The more reps I get the more comfortable I'll be."

Peterson thinks his temporary switch to safety affords him an opportunity to be more impactful.

"It does because now I have an opportunity to read the quarterback, read his shoulders and have an opportunity to make more breaks on the football now versus just guarding a receiver or playing a deep third on one side of the field," he said. "Now I feel like I can be more effective when the ball is in the air."

-- Blog entry by Mike Prisuta

Back to work: Defensive back Elijah Riley returned to practice today but remains on the Reserve/Injured List.

The Steelers have a 21-day window to either activate him to the 53-man roster, or he remains on the Reserve/Injured List the remainder of the year.

Riley was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on November 20 after getting injured in the Steelers Week 11 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Riley has played in 10 games this season and has seven tackles, including three solo stops, one sack and two tackles for a loss, as well as two special teams tackles.

Pro Bowl voting is underway: Voting is now open for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, the second year for the new-look games.

-->> Vote for Steelers players for the Pro Bowl Games

Fans can vote for their favorite Steelers players now through Dec. 25.

Cast your votes today.

Click on the links to go to the Steelers page and vote for players below as well.

-->> Vote for Steelers players for the Pro Bowl Games

During the final two weeks of voting (Dec. 11 – Dec. 25), fans can vote directly on "X" (formerly Twitter) by tweeting the first and last name of the player, tagging the player's official Twitter handle or creating a hashtag including the player's first and last name. All three of these methods must include the hashtag: #ProBowlVote. During the final two days (Dec. 24 – Dec. 25), social votes will count as double.

Practice squad update: The Steelers signed defensive back Jalen Elliott to the practice squad.

Elliott was signed to the practice squad on Oct. 31, but later released. He was also with the team in training camp.

Elliott originally signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame.

He spent his rookie season on the Lions practice squad and was elevated to the active roster for two games, and later signed to the 53-man roster. He played in a total of eight games, starting one.

Elliott signed with the New England Patriots during training camp in 2022. He played in the preseason but was released prior to the start of the regular season. Elliott also spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Elliott played in 51 games for the Fighting Irish, recording 173 tackles, 96 of them solo stops, six interceptions and a forced fumble.

Bringing you the action: For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place. Start your free trial today here.

Sunday, December 17

Focused on communication: Nose tackle Keeanu Benton knows it wasn't the performance the defense wanted, especially from a run standpoint.

The Colts were able to move the ball on the ground, rushing for 170 yards and late in the game, running the ball on 13 consecutive plays.

It's something they have to continue to work on and communication plays a key in it.

"Just making sure we are on the same page," said Benton on Sunday afternoon prior to the team watching film. "I feel like there were times in the game where our communication wasn't there. We just have to all talk to each other and make sure we fine tune those details to be on the same page and be gap sound.

"It's something we need to continue to communicate on."

A key cog in that communication component is safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and his status is still unknown moving forward.

"We just have to have that next man up mentality," said Benton. "Minkah has done all that he can do for us. If he is not in the game, he is going to find a way to still make an impact. We just have to go out there and win."

While the Steelers have lost three straight games, Benton didn't hesitate when asked if the issues can be fixed.

"Yeah," he answered, his look one of confidence.

And he followed it up with an assurance that they are working toward that.

"Nobody is packing their bags yet," said Benton.

Next man up: Communication is a key component of what a defense does, and for the Steelers, that communication took a hit when safety Minkah Fitzpatrick left the game against the Colts on Sunday.

While that was just one of the issues the defense was faced with, it is a key one as Fitzpatrick is a hub of communication from the back end.

Fitzpatrick suffered a knee injury in the second quarter of the game and didn't return, and his status for Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals isn't known at this point.

If he isn't able to go, it will be up to others to make sure they are on the same page.

"It will be a bit challenging," said safety Trenton Thompson, who saw more action with Fitzpatrick out. "Minkah is a huge communication part. We have to make it work. We can't change the ways because we are missing a piece. The next piece in has to get it right."

Thompson said communication is something they focus on in practice on a daily basis, but it can change in the blink of an eye with a guy like Fitzpatrick out. It's something they dealt with earlier this season when Fitzpatrick missed four games with a hamstring injury, and they are hoping not to have to deal with it again.

"We focus on it a lot in practice during the week," said Thompson. "When he went down the first time, the first games we had without him, communication wasn't terrible.

"Since we already experienced you could say it could make it easier, but I wish he was out there with us."

Looking in the mirror: One of the topics that was shared by players following the loss to the Colts is that there isn't just one topic, one thing to focus on, to correct the issues that are currently facing the Steelers after they lost their third straight game.

Some have pointed to communications, others execution and others fundamentals.

But there is one consistent message.

They will do everything in their power to correct the issues.

"Everybody in the room is a professional," said linebacker Mykal Walker. "People in this locker room have been through the highs. People in this locker room have been through the lows. At the end of the day, you have a job to do. Every time we go out there, we do our best to win the game. We haven't been executing these last couple of weeks.

"No one is giving up. We are going to fight."

Walker said they have to keep focusing on the fundamentals, something they work on continuously in practice, but it doesn't always translate on game day.

"It's fundamentals," said Walker. "We go out to practice every day and do the fundamentals. Some of these plays that they are hitting us on we do it correctly 10 out of 10 times in practice and it doesn't translate in the game.

"There is no room to blame people, there is no room to point fingers at anybody. We have to come together and decide this is when it stops."

Walker said he heard what some of his teammates said after the game, including linebackers Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt, and they hit the nail right on the head.

"It's us not executing. It starts with us," said Walker. "Alex hit it the best. We have to look at ourselves in the mirror before you start looking around. That's where it starts.

"You have to look in the mirror and make sure you do your job right. Do the little things right and it will take care of itself."

Pro Bowl voting is underway: Voting is now open for the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, the second year for the new-look games.

-->> Vote for Steelers players for the Pro Bowl Games

Fans can vote for their favorite Steelers players now through Dec. 25.

Cast your votes today.

Click on the links to go to the Steelers page and vote for players below as well.

-->> Vote for Steelers players for the Pro Bowl Games

During the final two weeks of voting (Dec. 11 – Dec. 25), fans can vote directly on "X" (formerly Twitter) by tweeting the first and last name of the player, tagging the player's official Twitter handle or creating a hashtag including the player's first and last name. All three of these methods must include the hashtag: #ProBowlVote. During the final two days (Dec. 24 – Dec. 25), social votes will count as double.

Bringing you the action: For fans who don't want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on mobile, plus NFL RedZone, NFL Network, live audio and more - all in one place. Start your free trial today here.