Steelers hope to have Haden for battle against Pats
GB’s Rodgers cleared; Hester retires at 35
PITTSBURGH — Mike Tomlin is ready to talk about the New England Patriots.
The fact the Pittsburgh Steelers coach can include cornerback Joe Haden in the discussion is a bonus.
Haden will attempt to practice for the AFC North champions this week, barely a month removed from a fractured left leg that appeared to put his season in jeopardy.
While Tomlin will wait to make a decision on whether Haden will be available Sunday when the Steelers (11-2) host the Patriots (10-3), the fact it’s even up for debate is promising. The top seed in the AFC is up for grabs.
The Steelers signed Haden on the eve of the regular season precisely for this situation. Tom Brady dominated Pittsburgh’s secondary in the AFC championship game 11 months ago, picking apart the Steelers’ zone defense while throwing for 384 yards and three touchdowns in a 36-17 romp that wasn’t even that close.
Tomlin and defensive coordinator Keith Butler made playing more man-to-man coverage a point of emphasis during the offseason and the Steelers had the second-ranked pass defense in the NFL before Haden left during the first half of a victory over the Colts on Nov. 11.
The results during Haden’s absence have been uneven at best, though it hasn’t stopped Pittsburgh from taking an eightgame winning streak into perhaps the most highly anticipated game of the regular season.
The Steelers clinched their third division title in four years last Sunday night with a 39-38 victory over Baltimore, meaning Haden will be heading to the playoffs for the first time.
Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers has been “medically cleared to return” to action after missing seven games with a broken right collarbone, the QB announced on Instagram on Tuesday night.
Rodgers was hurt during a loss to Minnesota on Oct. 15 and had surgery four days later. He returned to practice Dec. 2 and is eligible to rejoin the 53-man roster Friday, which means the two-time MVP could suit up for Green Bay’s game at Carolina on Sunday.
“It’s been a long road … but I’m happy to say I’ve been medically cleared to return,” Rodgers wrote on Tuesday night.
The Packers (7-6) likely need to win their final three games to make the playoffs.
Rodgers had his collarbone scanned Monday morning. That afternoon, with the team in the middle of game-planning for Carolina, coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t sure whether Rodgers or backup Brett Hundley would be his quarterback.
Devin Hester, 35. who holds the NFL record for kick return touchdowns with 20, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday.
In a post on social media, Hester said it was time .
“Good news: Commissioner Goodell, you can put the kickoff back at the 30,” Hester wrote.
Hester played for Atlanta, Baltimore and Seattle, but his best years were with the Bears from 2006-13. Chicago took him in the second round (57th overall) out of Miami, and at the end of his rookie season, he took the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl 92 yards for a touchdown against Indianapolis, though the Colts won the game.
SHAZIER: Pittsburgh linebacker Ryan Shazier’s season is over.
The AFC North champions placed Shazier on injured reserve Tuesday because of a spinal injury suffered in a victory over Cincinnati on Dec. 4.
Shazier, 25, underwent spinal stabilization surgery last week and remains in the hospital. The team has not released the exact nature of Shazier’s injury and his long-term prognosis.
New York placed quarterback Josh McCown on injured reserve, officially ending his season after he broke his left hand at Denver on Sunday. Coach Todd Bowles announced Monday that McCown will need season-ending surgery, so the move Tuesday was expected.
McCown was injured in the third quarter of the Jets’ 23-0 loss to the Broncos. Bryce Petty will take over as New York’s starting QB. PACKERS: Former kicker Ryan Longwell and tackle Mark Tauscher will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame. Longwell was the Packers’ all-time scoring leader with 1,054 career points until he was surpassed by Mason Crosby in 2015. Tauscher played in 134 games during an 11-year career.