Steelers’ Star LB Patrick Queen Penalized With Five-Figure Fine Following Week 2 Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers are on to Week 3 and a matchup with the New England Patriots, but just before that occurs, linebacker Patrick Queen was issued a Week 2 reminder in the form of an NFL fine.

According to the NFL Football Operations’ Gameday Accountability page, Queen was fined $17,389 for an illegal “hit on the quarterback,” described as a “blow to the head/neck.” This league infringement took place in the first quarter of the Week 2 matchup with the

Seattle Seahawks, and A-to-Z Sports Pittsburgh reporter Rob Gregson shared a clip of the hit on X.

Considering the Steelers ended up losing this game by a score of 31-17, this announcement just adds salt in the wounds for Queen.

No members of the Seahawks were fined by the NFL following Week 2.

Steelers LB Patrick Queen Struggles in Coverage to Start the 2025 Season

The Steelers spent $41 million

in order to lure Queen to Pittsburgh in 2024, but fans have often questioned if the middle linebacker has been worth the cap hit.

So far, his 2025 performance has been mixed. According to Pro Football Focus, Queen has been strong in run defense over the first two weeks, and as a tackler overall. However, his coverage marks have left a lot to be desired.

Through two games, Queen has allowed all 6 of his coverage targets to be caught, for a total of 62 yards and 1 touchdown. And in Week 2, specifically, his passer rating against was an exorbitant 158.3.

On the flip side, Queen has yet to miss a tackle, and he’s been credited with 6 key defensive “stops” that have resulted in a “failure” for the opposing offense. Queen has also registered 3 quarterback pressures on PFF.

No matter what Queen has been doing on a personal level, the Steelers’ defense has not been good enough in 2025, period. And the $41 million linebacker is a huge part of this unit.

Pittsburgh must get it together on the defensive side, and that includes Queen. If not, it could be a long season for the Steelers.

Yankees Shortstop Might Be Team's Secret Weapon

The New York Yankees might have a secret weapon on their hands as they move closer to the post-season: Jose Caballero's base stealing abilities.

Despite playing just 35 games since being traded to the Yankees from the Tampa Bay Rays, Caballero has stolen 14 bases. He leads the MLB in steals, with 48 bases stolen out of a total 121 games this season.

As a hitter, Caballero doesn't offer phenomenal numbers. He's slashing .234/ .337/ .347 this season and .265/ .370/ .471 on the Yankees, with only five home runs to show for a fairly full 2025. However, the Yankees have had trouble getting runners on base all season. Caballero's boldness and capabilities with stealing only serve to help the team, which can sometimes suffer from total offensive shutouts, like last week against the Minnesota Twins. This issue has improved since Cabaellero started playing more games and splitting time with divisive fellow shortstop Anthony Volpe.

Sep 14, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Jose Caballero (72) runs the bases after hitting. Solo home run against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images / Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

While Caballero's base running has helped give the Yankees, a team that is often criticized for over-relying on home runs, a boost, it's not always perfect. During the Pinstripes' recent game against the Baltimore Orioles, Caballero was picked off between first and second base in the second inning. Though the Yankees won the game 7-0, it was the second time Caballero was caught stealing in four games.

“You got to live with some of it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before the game. “When you’re running a lot and you’re stealing a lot of bases, there’s some risk that goes with that, so there’s going to be some outs along the way. You try to do your homework and prepare as best you can to limit those things. As much as we’re pushing the envelope in the running game, those things are going to happen from time to time.”

Of course, Caballero should be cautious when he attempts to steal bases, especially in high-pressure situations where one out can make the difference between a win and a loss. However, the former Ray's talent might just be a secret weapon for the Yankees post-season, as they try to contend with a reputation for over-reliance on home runs and inability to get runners on base.

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