The Pittsburgh Steelers traded for Donte Jackson ahead of the 2024 season. Many were excited about him joining the team, and the rumblings within the organization suggested he was a much better player than many realized. Jackson started the year strong, grabbing five interceptions, but his inability to stay healthy has been a recurring issue. New injuries seem to surface nearly every game, and his overall performance has taken a significant nosedive as the season has progressed.
Another notable addition was defensive back Cam Sutton. After being released by the Detroit Lions due to legal troubles, the Steelers gave Sutton a second chance, hoping he could return to the reliable form he once displayed in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, Sutton has been far from the dependable presence the team needed. His struggles in coverage have been glaring, and opposing quarterbacks are clearly targeting him with success.
A closer look at the numbers reveals just how poorly both players have performed in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, Sutton currently holds a woeful coverage grade of 47.5, while Jackson isn’t much better with a grade of 50.3. These numbers highlight a troubling reality for the Steelers' secondary, which was expected to be a strength this season. If these performances continue, Pittsburgh's defense could face even bigger challenges down the stretch.
Per PFF grades, 138 CBs have played 100 or more coverage snaps this season.
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 26, 2024
Donte Jackson is now ranked 132nd
Cam Sutton is ranked 128th
In a social media post shared by NFL Draft analyst Jon Ledyard, he emphasized just how concerning these coverage grades are. Out of 138 graded cornerbacks, both Sutton and Jackson rank near the very bottom. While fans often debate the accuracy of PFF grades, extreme scores like these usually paint an accurate picture. The reality is clear: Sutton and Jackson are struggling significantly in Pittsburgh, and their recent performances have only made matters worse.
The Steelers were riding high before this grueling three-game stretch in just ten days. They suffered losses to the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs—three undeniably tough opponents. However, Pittsburgh entered this stretch viewed as legitimate contenders. After dropping all three matchups, it’s hard to argue against the notion that they now look far more like pretenders.
Mike Tomlin said he wasn’t going to get dramatic after the loss to the Eagles. Well, it’s certainly time for Steelers fans to be dramatic. You don’t get thoroughly outplayed in three consecutive games and simply brush it off. This feels like yet another example of a Tomlin-led team unraveling when it matters most.
The Steelers now have one final chance to salvage some momentum heading into the playoffs with a win against the Cincinnati Bengals. But that will be no easy task. The Bengals are a formidable opponent, and Pittsburgh will need to dig deep to avoid ending the regular season on a sour note.
With the postseason looming, a victory over Cincinnati isn’t just important—it’s essential. The Steelers desperately need a confidence boost to turn things around and enter the playoffs with a sense of optimism and belief.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
Aaron Rodgers may have made an uncharacteristic mistake during a recent drill with the team when his pass was intercepted by linebacker Patrick Queen. However, he has since filled Pittsburgh Steelers fans with excitement amid training camp. Recently, Rodgers showed his connection with wide receiver DK Metcalf with a short throw that has fans and the Steelers hyped. Steelers' Slow-Mo Video Shows Aaron Rodgers' Pass to DK Metcalf On Instagram, the Steelers highlighted their new QB-WR duo with a video of Rodgers throwing the ball to Metcalf, who caught it with ease. To add a dramatic effect, Pittsburgh's social media team gave it a slow-motion treatment. The Steelers themselves were ecstatic to see the two work on their game, writing "Cinema" in the caption of the post. They also included the "Absolute Cinema" meme at the end of the post, emphasizing how much they enjoyed the play. Fans were quick to comment on the video as well, with many unable to hide their delight at seeing Rodgers bring stability to their quarterback position and build more chemistry with their new weapon in Metcalf. "Super Bowl," an excited commenter wrote. Another one expressed a similar sentiment, writing, "superbowl??" "Not a Steelers fan but seeing Rodgers in a Steelers helmet and throwing to DK met-calf is out of this world!" a social media user added. A fan remarked, "man this is really it." "DK is that dude," a follower shared. A sixth poster stated, "Mmmmmmmmm more please." How Rodgers Feels in Pittsburgh With the Steelers Rodgers signed a one-year, $13.65 million contract to join the Steelers. Considering the high likelihood of his retirement following the campaign — he said before that he's "pretty sure" it's his last one in the pros — the 41-year-old QB is expected to be highly motivated this 2025. So far, Rodgers appears to be enjoying his time in Pittsburgh. In fact, on Wednesday, he said in the "Pat McAfee Show" that he's "getting more comfortable as the days go on." He also has nothing but "gratitude" to be part of a historic franchise like the Steelers. "If I can sum up my feelings being in Pittsburgh, it's just gratitude to be in such a special organization with Mike T., the leadership of the football team, and to play for a fanbase that cares as much as these guys do."
The Houston Astros reportedly got some big infield help when they landed Ramon Urias from the Baltimore Orioles, and now could be turning their attention to the starting rotation. MLB.com reported that the Astros landed Urias in a deal that will send Single-A right-hander Twine Palmer to Baltimore. The 31-year-old utility infielder is coming off a two-homer game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday and has a slash line of .248/.300/.388 in 77 games this season. After adding the infield and hitting help they needed, the Astros are aiming to land an even bigger name before the trade deadline on Thursday. MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand noted that the Astros are after one of the top pitchers on the trade block. "The Astros are making a big push for Dylan Cease, with one source saying the starter is Houston’s 'main target,' " Feinsand shared in a post on X. While the Padres are in the thick of playoff contention in the National League, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell noted that they could trade Cease in a strategic move to help build for the future. "Cease has proven that he has ace-caliber stuff," Cassavell wrote. "He’s making nearly $14 million this year. Theoretically, the Padres could trade Cease for cheaper, longer-term pieces, while freeing up financial flexibility to make moves elsewhere." Cassavell added that there would be downsides for the Padres, including the impact of taking the most steady and reliable pitcher out of the rotation.
The Philadelphia Phillies struck a deal to land a big bullpen arm in Jhoan Duran on Wednesday night, not only boosting their own relief corps but also putting more pressure on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Both the Dodgers and Phillies had been linked to Duran, a right-hander who posted 12 saves along with a 2.01 ERA so far this season. However, it was Philadelphia that struck the pre-trade-deadline deal, bringing the 27-year-old on board in exchange for a pair of the franchise's top 10 prospects. Now the next move belongs to Los Angeles. Both the Phillies and Dodgers are expected to be among the teams competing for the National League title in October, but Los Angeles is in desperate need to reinforce its bullpen before that happens. Dodger relievers Tanner Scott, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips and Brusdar Graterol have all spent time on the injured list this year, and the Los Angeles bullpen has suffered with their absences. Entering Wednesday's action, Dodgers relievers had posted a minus-3.4 Wins Above Average (WAA), placing Los Angeles 25th among MLB's 30 teams in that category. Additionally, Dodgers starters have thrown just 493.1 innings this year. That's the lowest number in MLB and makes Los Angeles the only MLB team to have their starters not cross the 500-inning threshold. With L.A. starters not going deep into the game and current Dodger relievers struggling with health and performance when called upon, it's clear that Duran would have been a big piece for the Dodgers to add to their personnel puzzle. With Duran heading to Philadelphia and Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase off the trading block after being the subject of an MLB investigation, the number of true impact relievers is dwindling ahead of Thursday's 6 p.m. (Eastern) MLB trade deadline. Minnesota's Griffin Jax is still a possibility, as is David Bednar from the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, the clock is ticking on the Dodgers to make a move ... and it will likely be a costly one in terms of prospects. In the wake of the Phillies claiming arguably the biggest bullpen prize of the trade deadline, Los Angeles can't afford to wait.
The Washington Commanders are reloading for another tilt at the Super Bowl, and the weapons at Jayden Daniels' disposal will be key in seeing how far the franchise can go. With a few new additions in Deebo Samuel and Michael Gallup to go with Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, Luke McCaffrey, rookie Jaylin Lane, and K.J. Osborn, Daniels does have some nice weapons. But they all have to be working in unison, and that is why training camp is so important, to help develop that chemistry that will be key in making big plays at crucial times in the season. For Brown, coming back to the Commanders after a solid season (453 yards, one touchdown), how is he seeing this year's room a week into training camp? “Hungry,” Brown said. “I think that everybody in the room is hungry for more, ready to come out and build on what we did last year. We got some new pieces in the room, some guys that have been around, but I think overall we're not satisfied with where we were at last year, and we're ready to build on that.” Having made it to the NFC Championship game last season, the roster nearly got a taste of what reaching the NFL's penultimate game felt like. Now they want it again. With a solid offensive line, coupled with the addition of Samuel and the expected improvement of Daniels, Washington, on paper, has all the tools to make the 2025 season a successful one. And a "hungry" receiver room might just be the catalyst for what could be a Super Bowl-winning year.