Steelers’ rookie stars in 17-13 win over Falcons
PITTSBURGH — Rookie running back James Conner set up Pittsburgh’s winning fourth-quarter touchdown pass in the Steelers’ 17-13 exhibition victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Conner, the former University of Pittsburgh star who overcame Hodgkin’s lymphoma and a serious right knee injury to reach the NFL, broke off runs of 17 and 19 yards, leading to Bart Houston’s
6-yard touchdown pass to Justin Hunter.
Conner was greeted with an ovation on the third series of the game when he made his first carry. The third-round pick busted off three other runs longer than 10 yards and ended his NFL debut with 98 yards rushing on
20 carries.
Matt Ryan led the Falcons to a touchdown in his only series and finished 4 of 6 for 57 yards. In two series during the preseason, Ryan, the 2016 NFL’s Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year, has gone 6 of 8 for 88 yards with a touchdown and a
123.6 passer rating. Pittsburgh receiver Martavis Bryant played his first game more than 18 months.
The NFL suspended Bryant in March 2016 for a second violation of its substance abuse policy. Bryant, who is still in the process of being fully reinstated by the league, remains suspended, but is permitted to participate in all preseason activities — including practices and games.
Steelers rookie Josh Dobbs targeted Bryant on the first play of the game, but the offense sputtered with consecutive threeand-outs. Dobbs, a fourth-round pick, was 10 of 19 for 70 yards with an interception.
Cowboys 24, Colts 19
ARLINGTON, Texas — Dak Prescott and Dez Bryant offered a glimpse of how the Dallas Cowboys’ offense could look without Ezekiel Elliott: the second-year star quarterback frequently finding his top receiver.
The Indianapolis Colts are still struggling to see what life without Andrew Luck might be like.
Prescott connected with Bryant for a 32-yard touchdown on their first series of the preseason, and rookie Cooper Rush threw two scoring passes in the Cowboys’ 2419 exhibition win Saturday night. Last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Prescott was 8 of 9 for 106 yards in his two possessions. The first was a 95-yard drive in seven plays that started with a
23-yard toss to Bryant. Prescott’s second series ended on a fumble inside Indy’s 10 by Darren McFadden, who started as the Cowboys again delayed Elliott’s exhibition debut.
Elliott has appealed his suspension, disputing the NFL’s findings that he caused bruises on his ex-girlfriend in several confrontations last summer.
Bryant’s 55 yards receiving held up as the most in the game for the Cowboys.
Scott Tolzien played the first half for the Colts, who aren’t sure if Luck will be ready for the regular season after offseason shoulder surgery.
Tolzien led a 60-yard drive to Adam Vinatieri’s 33-yard field goal in the second quarter, highlighted by a 25-yard pass to Kamar Aiken. Tolzien, who is 0-2-1 as an NFL starter, finished 10 of 14 for 70 yards.