Aaron Rodgers explains why he yelled at Steelers teammate
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers lost his cool with one of his teammates on Sunday, but tried to downplay the interaction following the game.
Rodgers was intercepted in the end zone when wide receiver Calvin Austin ran a poor route that essentially led to him accidentally breaking up a pass to teammate Pat Freiermuth. The veteran quarterback could be seen barking angrily at Austin after the interception.
After the game, Rodgers took on a softer tone by praising Austin, but admitting that the wide receiver made a mistake with his route.
“Cal is the best kid ever, but he probably should have just stayed in the flat there,” Rodgers said, via Jake Boico of Steeler Nation. “He knows it. Or he was kind of stealing it from Pat or just trying to catch it, put it away, score a touchdown.”
Week 2 did not go as well for the Steelers as Week 1 did. After scoring a touchdown in the opener, Austin was limited to one catch against the Seahawks, and he essentially cost his team points here.
Rodgers has, in the past, had a reputation for being tough on young wide receivers. Austin is only in his third season and is trying to carve out a role for himself in the Pittsburgh offense, but Rodgers has at least avoided throwing his new teammate under the bus too much in public.
Lions veteran is proving everyone wrong about him, and he's being rewarded with an expanded role for it
Detroit Lions veteran is proving everyone wrong about him, and he's being rewarded with an expanded role
I swear to you, I've typed the words edge rusher 750 times in the last few months alone. I wish I could actually count. My favorite time to do it is when it's for a good reason, and this one is. The Detroit Lions are coming off a big win over the Chicago Bears, and they were able to bring pressure and get home for the first time this season. One player who really stood out caught the eye of coaches, and now he's going to get more opportunities going forward.
Al-Quadin Muhammad is set to get an expanded role on the Lions' defense
Muhammad had a great game against the Bears on Sunday. In the times when Marcus Davenport was injured, Muhammad came in and played 36 snaps and put up three pressures and a sack. While it was less noticeable, he had a pressure and a quarterback hit against the Packers in Week 1, too. Muhammad is showing what he can do week to week. Because of that, he's going to get an expanded role on the Lions' defense.
"He had a really good camp, and he just continues to do things for us. He's crafty, he's strong, he's got some explosiveness, and, man, he plays hard. God plays hard." Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday. "I mean, there was a number of plays I can think of three right now where he's running out of the stack. He's running out of balls thrown screen and, I mean, he is running to try to get the ball or making a tackle. And it's that kind of effort with what he's got, ability-wise, it gives you a chance. He's been big for us, and he's going to get more of a role. He's earned that."
It's been such a stark difference from what was expected for Muhammad when he got here last year. When I asked Colts beat writer Destin Adams about him after he signed, Adams said right out front that if the Lions were hoping for pass rush from him, they might be disappointed, but that he was strong against the run in Indianapolis.
Adams was right on the latter part of that. Muhammad has been a great run defender in Detroit. But he's also shown to be a strong pass rusher. Perhaps he just didn't get to show that with the Colts. He showed in 2024 and the Lions brought him back, and now he might have a chance to start opposite Aidan Hutchinson against the Ravens since the Lions are waiting to hear what the word is on Davenport.
Let's see what he can do against a Ravens offensive line that struggled against the Browns defense on Sunday, despite their win, saying otherwise.
