Pouncey says players will stand united
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pouncey,said whenfieldin Steelers Baltimore.for there the Sundaythe playersone won’t Steelerscenter nationalof He on thebe afternoonsaid Maurkicethe any take anthem longesttenuredteam,he suspense theis confidenthave“I of promise100 players percentthe standing.you Steelersone participationthing will this standing week out — there we’ll for the all national be said after anthem,” practice Pouncey Wednesday. “Trust me. We respect our flag and we respect the military. I think the bigger message was we were trying to stay out of it. That we should unite inside.
“It was all about the flag. It was just a big misunderstanding. Trust me, I’m very sorry to anyone who feels the way they do. I care about the flag dearly. Trust me, this team will be out there standing Sunday.”
The Steelers have come under fire for remaining in the tunnel just outside their locker room in Chicago’s Soldier Field Sunday. The only Steelers player on the field was former Army Ranger Alejandro Villanueva.
When Pouncey was asked again if he was confident in 100 percent participation he said: “As far I know, it’s 100 percent. We’re going to go out there as the Pittsburgh Steelers. If not, you’ll have something to talk about. As far as I know, everyone on the Pittsburgh Steelers will go out there.
“We’re going to go out there and do the right thing. If someone decides not to, then they’ll have to answer to that. I’m telling you the Pittsburgh Steelers will go out there and do the right thing.”
Steelers captains Ben Roethlisberger Cameron Heyward said Monday the Steelers would be on the field for the anthem in Baltimore, but Pouncey was the first member of the team to say all players would stand.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday the reason the Steelers stayed in the tunnel in Chicago was because some players probably would have knelt during the anthem, and he wanted the Steelers to be united in what they did.
Heyward did not go as far as Pouncey did Wednesday when he was asked about the team’s plans for Sunday.
“Everybody is going to be out there,” Heyward said. “I don’t know what’s going through everyone’s head. I can’t answer for everyone right now, but everyone is going to be out there. We’re focused on beating Baltimore and we’ll pay tribute to our flag.”
Injury updates
Linebacker T.J. Watt, defensive end Stephon Tuitt and tackle Marcus Gilbert practiced in full Wednesday for the Steelers. All three missed Sunday’s loss to the Bears.
Gilbert didn’t practice last week while nursing a hamstring and flu-like symptoms. Similar symptoms held Villanueva out of the Steelers’ Week 2 win against the Minnesota Vikings. Wide receiver Martavis Bryant sat out practice Wednesday due to illness.
Watt, who already has two sacks, an interception and a pass deflection in his rookie season, didn’t play the second half against the Vikings in Week 2 after sustaining a groin injury. He practiced with the first team Wednesday.
Tuitt, who missed the past two games with a biceps injury, said he felt “100 percent” at practice. Though he can’t fix the Steelers’ leaky rush defense himself, he believes he can make a difference against the Ravens. The Steelers gave up 220 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to the Bears Sunday.
“I’m not the answer to anything, but to be able to watch that was hard,” Tuitt said. “Sometimes, you have to watch things like that, you can’t control it. This week, we’re going to make up for that.”
Roethlisberger impressed
seenpick QuarterbackJuJuout likesof Smith-Schustersecond-roundwhat Ben he Roethlisbergerhas through three games. Smith-Schuster had two receptions for 39 yards Sunday and has five receptions and a touchdown through three games. All 10 of his targets have come in the last two weeks, as he wasn’t targeted during the Steelers’ opening win against the Cleveland Browns. Roethlisberger said he wanted Smith-Schuster’s locker near his to make it easier for the rookie to ask him questions before and after practices and games. “I think he’s really growing, every week,” Roethlisberger said. “You see a mistake, but you won’t see the same mistake twice, and, for me, that’s growth. He communicates well back to you.”