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Steelers Bolster Roster with Two Defensive Additions, Place Two Players on Injured List

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The Pittsburgh Steelers continued reshaping their roster with several notable moves this week. The team signed veteran safety Jabrill Peppers to a one-year contract.

Peppers enters his ninth NFL season with nearly a decade of production across three franchises. He has appeared in 99 career games, starting 85, while recording 494 total tackles, 35 passes defensed, 30 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, and six forced fumbles. His experience and versatility provide a valuable boost to Pittsburgh’s secondary.

Patriots release veteran S Jabrill Peppers | Reuters

Most recently with the New England Patriots, Peppers played in 38 games across three seasons. He delivered 178 tackles, 107 of them solo, along with 10 passes defensed and nine tackles for loss. Before New England, Peppers spent three years with the New York Giants after being traded from Cleveland, starting 30 games.

Peppers began his NFL career as a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2017. He immediately became a starter, playing 29 games in two seasons and recording 137 tackles. At Michigan, he starred in 27 collegiate games, making 123 tackles and earning All-American honors as well as recognition as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

The Steelers also promoted cornerback James Pierre to the 53-man roster. Pierre is in his second stint with the franchise after joining as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He has appeared in 81 games during his career, recording 71 tackles, three interceptions, and a forced fumble while contributing heavily on special teams.

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Pierre re-signed with Pittsburgh in 2024 after a brief stop with Washington. He played in 15 games last season, starting two, and recorded 12 tackles along with one interception against Cleveland in Week 14. His familiarity with the defense and special teams makes him a trusted option for the active roster.

Injury setbacks created the need for these moves. Linebacker Malik Harrison and quarterback Skyler Thompson were both placed on injured reserve, opening roster space for the new additions. Harrison was expected to contribute on defense, while Thompson served as depth at quarterback, leaving Pittsburgh to adjust quickly before Week 2.

The Steelers also turned to Logan Woodside for quarterback insurance, signing him to the practice squad. Woodside was originally drafted by Cincinnati in 2018 and has played in 13 NFL games, mostly with the Tennessee Titans. He brings experience as a backup and a steady presence for practice preparation.

Woodside played college football at Toledo, where he appeared in 43 games and posted impressive numbers with 10,514 passing yards and 93 touchdowns. His background provides Pittsburgh with a reliable option behind their primary quarterbacks as the team navigates early-season injuries and roster uncertainty.

These adjustments show the Steelers’ commitment to balancing veteran leadership with reliable depth. Adding Peppers and Pierre strengthens the secondary, while Woodside offers stability at quarterback. Despite losing Harrison and Thompson to injured reserve, Pittsburgh continues to bolster its roster with versatile players who can contribute immediately.

Who’s to Blame for the Dallas Cowboys’ Shocking Loss to the Panthers? The Finger-Pointing Begins
Cowboys stunned by Panthers 30-27 - Dak Prescott played well — so who’s really to blame? Let’s break down the collapse and what happens next. 1. Chaos in Carolina: Cowboys Collapse in the Final Seconds Week 6 should’ve been routine for the Dallas Cowboys. Facing the Panthers — a team they were expected to dominate — they walked into Charlotte full of confidence.But in a gut-punch of a finish, Carolina stole it 30-27, sealed by a last-second field goal that left Cowboys Nation in disbelief. Check the official Cowboys gear collection in the link: SHOP NOW! Former Dallas RB Rico Dowdle came back to haunt his old team, torching the defense for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns. The run game gashed through the Cowboys’ interior line like a hot knife through butter. Dak Prescott? He did his job — 261 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, no major turnovers. But one man can’t fix what looks like a systemic breakdown.  2. Defensive Disaster: Matt Eberflus Under Fire The loudest criticism doesn’t land on Dak — it lands on defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.Dallas’ defense, once the team’s pride, is suddenly the weak link. Against Carolina, it looked confused, soft, and reactive. They couldn’t stop the run, couldn’t pressure the QB, and at times looked like they didn’t even belong on the same field.As one insider put it: “If Eberflus can’t fix this in two weeks, he might not finish the season.” The numbers speak for themselves — Panthers gained over 7 yards per carry, and Dallas’ front seven looked completely lost. 3. Donovan Wilson’s Fatal Coverage Mistake Safety Donovan Wilson has been reliable for years — until Week 6.His busted coverage late in the fourth quarter allowed a key Panthers touchdown that flipped the momentum completely. It’s the kind of mental error that gets replayed in film rooms all week long. And in a close game like this, it was the difference between victory and humiliation. 4. Kenny Clark: Veteran Presence, Vanished Performance Kenny Clark, the supposed rock of Dallas’ run defense, got manhandled.He was swallowed by double teams, overpowered on critical downs, and rarely made an impact. When your veteran anchor disappears, the whole structure crumbles — and that’s exactly what happened to Dallas’ defensive front. 5. Offensive Imbalance: When the Run Game Vanishes Not all blame falls on the defense.The Cowboys’ offense was too one-dimensional, relying heavily on Dak’s arm without establishing the ground game. With linemen like Tyler Booker and Cooper Beebe missing, the O-line struggled to protect. Prescott was under constant duress, and the running backs found no lanes to breathe. When you can’t run the ball, you can’t control the clock — and you hand your defense right back to the wolves. 6. Fallout & The Road Ahead: “This Is the Moment That Defines Dallas” The Cowboys now stand at a crossroads — a familiar, dangerous one. Either this becomes their wake-up call, or it becomes the moment the 2025 season starts to unravel. If they bounce back strong in the next two weeks, they can still rewrite the narrative — turn this pain into fire, just as they did years ago when they started 3–5 and clawed their way into the playoffs.But if not? The whispers will turn into headlines. The headlines will turn into locker room fractures.And before long, America’s Team will be back where it’s been too many times before — a story of wasted talent and broken promises. Fans are split, analysts are circling like vultures, and the media is waiting for the next soundbite from Dak Prescott.This isn’t just about one game anymore.It’s about the soul of the Dallas Cowboys — whether they still have the heart, discipline, and unity to rise again. “We’ve seen great Cowboys teams collapse after one bad week,” one NFL insider warned. “This is where you find out who’s built for the storm — and who just looks good in the uniform.” The next game isn’t just another matchup.It’s a statement to the league.Dallas can either silence the noise — or drown in it.