Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker, Steelers safety Eric Rowe trade blows
As the Seattle Seahawks drove down the field on the way to a touchdown, running back Kenneth Walker III had a heated moment with Steelers safety Eric Rowe. Ahead of the half, Walker got up from a tackle and hit Rowe in the helmet before the safety responded with a jab of his own.
The altercation came after the former Michigan State star scored the first touchdown of the game for Seattle. His teammates had to drive the running back away from the ensuing scuffle between the Seahawks offense and Steelers defenders. Quarterback Geno Smith capped the drive with a 12-yard completion for a score to rookie wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The Steelers got the scoring started on Sunday afternoon with a 14-play, 80-yard drive. Running back Jaylen Warren scored on an 18-yard run to make it 7-0. Seattle responded, then gave up a field goal to make it 10-7. Smith-Njigba’s touchdown put Pittsburgh up 14-10.
Najee Harris gave the Steelers the lead before the half on a nine-yard run. Harris fought for every yard on the scoring run and just barely crossed the ball over the plane of the endzone.
Steelers start Mason Rudolph vs. Seattle
The Pittsburgh Steelers (8-7) unveiled their list of inactives for Sunday’s Week 17 road tilt against the Seattle Seahawks (8-7) ahead of kickoff.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett, sidelined the past three games with an ankle injury, is inactive. He had been listed as questionable for the game. Mason Rudolph is starting under center for the second consecutive game.
Rudolph got the start in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, completing 17-of-27 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers defeated the Bengals, 34-11.
“I’m taking it one day at a time,” Rudolph said Wednesday. “I’m really just enjoying getting reps practice. It seems it’s foreign. But I think it builds confidence when you stack days, good day on good day, and that’s what we’re trying to do. And I know it’s a week-to-week league. I’ve turned the page from last week.”
Star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will be out for the second straight week with an ankle injury. With Fitzpatrick and Trenton Thompson out, Damontae Kazee suspended and Keanu Neal on the reserve/injured list, veteran defensive back Patrick Peterson will get the start at safety.
“We’ll see where it goes from here,” Peterson said. “I really did feel comfortable, felt great, made a couple plays to help this defense be successful and ultimately help this team win the ballgame.
“I thought I fared pretty good, didn’t have to make any open-field tackles. Honestly, in my opinion, that’s what safety is going to come down to for me. I feel like I have exceptional ball-skills to where I can track the ball wherever it is. It’s just going to come down to getting those open-field runners down when those opportunities present themselves.”