Black and Gold vs. a different shade of Black and Gold

[RuthlessBurgher]

Saints designate Ted Ginn to return from IR

Posted by Charean Williams on December 19, 2018, 6:58 PM EST

The Saints designated receiver Ted Ginn to return from injured reserve Wednesday, Nick Underhill of The Advocate reports.

It starts a 21-day window for the Saints to add Ginn to the 53-player roster or he will revert back to injured reserve.

The Saints placed Ginn on injured reserve Oct. 19 with a knee injury. He has not played since a Week Four game against the Giants, with Wednesday marking Ginn’s first practice in more than two months.

Ginn caught 12 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns this season.

The Saints already returned Tommylee Lewis from injured reserve, leaving them with no more designations for the season.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/12/19/saints-designate-ted-ginn-to-return-from-ir/

[RuthlessBurgher]

Saints sign Cornelius Lucas, cut Derek Newton

Posted by Charean Williams on December 20, 2018, 3:37 PM EST

The Saints signed offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas, Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune reports. They cut offensive tackle Derek Newton in a corresponding move.

Lucas, 27, appeared in one game for the Rams last season.

The New Orleans native played 35 career games, with six starts, with the Lions from 2014-16 after going undrafted out of Kansas State.

Newton signed with the Saints last week, two years after tearing the patellar tendons in both knees. Newton was inactive for Monday night’s game against the Panthers.

The Saints are banged up in the offensive line, with five linemen listed on their injury report Wednesday.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/12/20/saints-signing-cornelius-lucas-cut-derek-newton/

[RuthlessBurgher]

Thursday, Dec 20, 2018 03:53 PM

Week 16 Injury Report (Saints)

Teresa Varley

Steelers.com

The Steelers continued their preparation for the Saints on Thursday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex and had an addition to the practice report. JuJu Smith-Schuster was limited, listed with groin injury.

James Conner, who missed the last two games with an ankle sprain, didn’t practice for the second straight day. He has classified himself as ‘day-to-day’ and said he wouldn’t play unless he was fully ready to go.

In Conner’s absence rookie Jaylen Samuels has been carrying the load in the backfield. Samuels, one of the team’s fifth-round draft picks, carried the ball 19 times for 142 yards against the Patriots. It was a performance that impressed Conner.

“It was awesome, it was fun to watch,” said Conner. “He played with emotion, got the job done, made some big catches. He played a complete game. He’s a player for sure.”

Samuels said he prepares every week as if he is starting and that helped him when he was called upon to be the next man up.

“That’s why you’ve got to take care of your body,” said Samuels. “I came in on an off day to take care of my body. I told coach I was here getting ready to prepare of the Saints because it’s another tough task this week.”

Cameron Heyward, who hyperextended his knee against the Patriots but returned to the game, was a full participant in practice again on Thursday. Terrell Edmunds, who had concussion symptoms, was limited on Wednesday but was full go on Thursday. Bud Dupree, who suffered a knee contusion against the Patriots, didn’t practice on Wednesday but he was all a full participant on Thursday.

The full practice report is below.

Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 16

Thursday, December 20
QB Ben Roethlisberger (Coach's Decision) - Full
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Groin) - Limited
RB James Conner (Ankle) - DNP
S Terrell Edmunds (Concussion) - Full
LB Bud Dupree (Knee) - Full
C Maurkice Pouncey (Coach's Decision) - Full
DE Cameron Heyward (Knee) - Full

Wednesday, December 19
QB Ben Roethlisberger (Coach's Decision) - DNP
RB James Conner (Ankle) - DNP
S Terrell Edmunds (Concussion) - Limited
LB Bud Dupree (Knee) - DNP
C Maurkice Pouncey (Coach's Decision) - DNP
DE Cameron Heyward (Knee) - Full

https://www.steelers.com/news/week-16-injury-report-saints

[RuthlessBurgher]

Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer

Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster appeared on the injury report with a groin issue. He was limited Thursday. WR James Washington says he's ready to start if necessary but believes Smith-Schuster will be fine.

10m

[RuthlessBurgher]

JuJu Smith-Schuster limited at Steelers practice

Posted by Josh Alper on December 20, 2018, 4:09 PM EST

The Steelers have been dealing with an injured running back for the last few weeks and now they have a health issue at wide receiver as well.

JuJu Smith-Schuster was added to the team’s injury report on Thursday. He was limited by a groin injury and Mark Kaboly of The Athletic reports that he had to leave the session early as a result of the issue.

Friday’s practice and the release of injury designations will bring further word about Smith-Schuster’s status. The wideout has not missed a game yet this season.

James Washington, Eli Rogers, Ryan Switzer and Darrius Heyward-Bey would work along with Antonio Brown at receiver if Smith-Schuster isn’t able to play against the Saints.

Running back James Conner was the only player who didn’t practice for the Steelers. He said Wednesday that he doesn’t feel ready to return from the ankle injury that’s kept him out of the last two games.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/12/20/juju-smith-schuster-limited-at-steelers-practice/

[RuthlessBurgher]

Friday, Dec 21, 2018 03:30 PM
Week 16 Injury Report (Saints)

Teresa Varley
STEELERS.COM

The Steelers head into Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints with a question mark at wide receiver.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, who left practice early with a groin injury on Thursday, didn’t practice on Friday and is questionable for the game. Smith-Schuster is the Steelers leading receiver with 1,274 yards on 95 receptions and has six receiving touchdowns.

Earlier this week Saints Coach Sean Payton talked about the challenge of defending the duo of Smith-Schuster and Antonio Brown.

“They’re explosive players, they run well, they have great ball skills,” said Payton. “It’s challenging with two, relative to how you cover them. I think they transition very well. They can get to top end speed, but they can also stop. That allows them separation and you partner that with a quarterback like Ben (Roethlisberger) and that makes for a challenging day.”

James Conner, who didn’t practice all week, has been ruled out and will miss his third straight game.

The running game was on fire last week against the New England Patriots when rookie Jaylen Samuels carried the ball 19 times for 142 yards. Samuels and Stevan Ridley will be called upon again this week, but it will be a tough test going against a Saints team that has been strong against the run.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that they are No. 1 in football vs. the run,” said Coach Mike Tomlin during his weekly press conference. “Part of that is being a 12-2 football team, I understand that, having leads and so forth. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that they’re No. 2 in the league vs. the run in terms of yards allowed per carry. They’re probably not seeing a lot of carries because of the nature of the game, or the circumstances they’re in, but you better acknowledge they’re just formidable in stopping the run, period.”

Cameron Heyward hasn’t shown any ill effects of the hyperextended knee he suffered against the Patriots last week. Heyward, who returned to the game after he injured the knee, was a full participant in practice all week and is good to go for Sunday.

The same is true for Bud Dupree, who left the Patriots game with a knee injury. Dupree was limited in practice on Wednesday but was a full go on Thursday and Friday. Tomlin had indicated during his Tuesday press conference that he didn’t expect Dupree to miss this week’s game and that is the case.

Terrell Edmunds, who was in concussion protocol early in the week, has been cleared and after being limited in practice on Wednesday he was a full go on Thursday and Friday.

The full practice report is below.


Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 16

Game Status
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Groin) - Questionable
RB James Conner (Ankle) - Out

Friday, December 21
QB Ben Roethlisberger (Coach's Decision) - Full
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Groin) - DNP
RB James Conner (Ankle) - DNP
S Terrell Edmunds (Concussion) - Full
LB Bud Dupree (Knee) - Full
C Maurkice Pouncey (Coach's Decision) - Full
DE Cameron Heyward (Knee) - Full

Thursday, December 20
QB Ben Roethlisberger (Coach's Decision) - Full
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (Groin) - Limited
RB James Conner (Ankle) - DNP
S Terrell Edmunds (Concussion) - Full
LB Bud Dupree (Knee) - Full
C Maurkice Pouncey (Coach's Decision) - Full
DE Cameron Heyward (Knee) - Full

Wednesday, December 19
QB Ben Roethlisberger (Coach's Decision) - DNP
RB James Conner (Ankle) - DNP
S Terrell Edmunds (Concussion) - Limited
LB Bud Dupree (Knee) - DNP
C Maurkice Pouncey (Coach's Decision) - DNP
DE Cameron Heyward (Knee) - Full
New Orleans Saints Participation/Injury Report, Week 16

Game Status
T Jermon Bushrod (Hamstring) - Out

Friday, December 21
T Jermon Bushrod (Hamstring) - DNP
C Max Unger (Concussion) - Full
G Andrus Peat (Shoulder) - Full
T Ryan Ramczyk (Shoulder) - Full
P Thomas Morstead (Left ankle) - Full
T Terron Armstead (Pectoral/knee) - Full

Thursday, December 20
T Jermon Bushrod (Hamstring) - DNP
C Max Unger (Concussion) - Limited
G Andrus Peat (Shoulder) - Limited
T Ryan Ramczyk (Shoulder) - Limited
P Thomas Morstead (Left ankle) - Limited
T Terron Armstead (Pectoral/knee) - Limited

Wednesday, December 19
T Jermon Bushrod (Hamstring) - DNP
C Max Unger (Concussion) - DNP
G Andrus Peat (Shoulder) - Limited
T Ryan Ramczyk (Shoulder) - Limited
P Thomas Morstead (Left ankle) - Limited
T Terron Armstead (Pectoral/knee) - Limited

[RuthlessBurgher]

Sheldon Rankins thinks three-game road swing was good for Saints
By Josh Alper | Dec 21, 2018, 7:41 AM EST

The Saints will be back in the Superdome this week for the first time since beating the Falcons 31-17 in Week 12 and the three-game road swing that followed featured their shakiest stretch of the season.

They lost 13-10 to the Cowboys, trailed the Buccaneers 14-3 at halftime before rallying for a win and then came back for a 12-9 win over the Panthers last Monday night. The change from the overwhelming wins earlier in the season could be cause for concern in some corners, but defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins has a more positive take.

“I think it was good for this team,” Rankins said, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “To be able to go on the road and experience some trials and tribulations, to be able to have to weather the storm on the road and, for the most part, take care of business, it’s good to know. You confirmed that you go on the road and win those types of games, play those types of games and be successful.”

While the Saints may have learned that over the last three weeks, there may not be a need to put those lessons to the test for a while. They will face the Panthers at home after playing the Steelers this weekend and a win on Sunday would ensure that Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta would be the only possible road trip left on the schedule.