The Bengals may be sitting through a frustrating stretch of one-score losses, but Zac Taylor isn’t letting that turn into a referendum on his team. After falling to the Steelers and Jaguars by slim margins, the Cincinnati coach said he still sees a group with plenty left in the tank.
“I am allowed to see the silver lining, and that this team’s got a lot of fight,” Taylor said, via CLNS’ Mike Petraglia. “And if I get this team for 14 more weeks, 13 more weeks, whatever it is, I’m signing up for that all day because we’re gonna have a great year.
We had opportunities there. I think we’re going to look back tomorrow and be upset with ourselves.”
In Baltimore, the big question is Lamar Jackson’s ankle and whether it will keep him from starting Sunday night at the Falcons. Ravens HC Jesse Minter didn’t offer much certainty, but he did leave the door open.
“ I don’t know the chances yet. I don’t think it’s going to be crazy long-term. ”
Minter also said rookie RB Adam Randall and CB Bilhal Kone could be back on the practice field this week, though any return would still have to fit into the team’s roster decisions.
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, the focus Monday wasn’t on the box score so much as the tense exchange between Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy that was caught on a live mic. Rodgers didn’t take questions about it, but McCarthy addressed it head-on and said the two have already talked multiple times since the incident.
“I wouldn’t classify it as normal,” McCarthy said, via Pro Football Talk. “But I think the reality of it is, you know, it’s a 20-year relationship.
I think the fact that we were able to sit and talk numerous times, you know, over the weekend, about that and a number of things. As I stated, I’m - hopefully, not to put any pressure on my daughter - I’m getting to grandfather age.
You know, I don’t want to be saying those type of words. But it’s an emotional, competitive environment.
I think it’s something that we can definitely learn from.”
In Other News...
Steelers Fans May See Joey Porter Jr. Trade Very Differently Now
The Cowboys acquisition of Joey Porter Jr. came with the usual instant questions about what comes next, but the early read on his approach may ease some of that anxiety. Rather than pushing immediately for a new deal, Porter is reportedly willing to play out his current contract, which gives Dallas some breathing room as it sorts through the longer-term picture around one of its newest defensive additions.
For Steelers fans, that detail may change the way the move is viewed from afar. Porters market value is estimated at around $27.4 million per year, so the price tag is still substantial, but the bigger issue now appears to be how much security and how many years the Cowboys want to offer when the time comes. The contract conversation is not going away, but the early signs suggest this may be more about fit and timing than any urgent showdown over money. [Read more 🡒]
Missing Steelers Fan Case In Cleveland Just Took A Disturbing Turn
A trip to Cleveland for a football game has turned into a search that now carries real weight. Phoenix Phillips, a 24-year-old from Maryland, was last seen downtown after attending the game, and police have said his disappearance is concerning. His phone was found, adding to the unease around a case that has quickly moved beyond a simple missing-person report.
Authorities have also recovered an unidentified body near the area where Phillips was last known to be, though they have not confirmed any connection. The investigation remains active, and online chatter has added another layer of noise around Phillips, with unverified allegations tying him to unauthorized trading and scamming. For now, though, the only thing that matters is the unanswered question of what happened after he left the game. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb Shares A Feel Good Life Update
For a Steelers defense still trying to settle in through a 2-2 start, Cole Holcomb has had a more personal milestone to celebrate away from the field. Holcomb and his wife, Casey, welcomed their second child this week, a baby boy named Drew Jarrett, or DJ, adding a bright spot to a season that has already had its share of on-field grind for the veteran inside linebacker.
Holcomb has continued to be part of Pittsburghs mix in the middle of the defense, even as the early weeks have brought a little bit of everything, including an NFL fine for a blindside block on a special teams play in Week 3. The newborn news, though, is the kind of update that can reset a players week in a hurry, and it gives Holcomb and his family a memorable moment as the Steelers move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]