Steelers Rookie LB Faces Heavy Discipline After Missing Team Flight to Cincinnati for Bengals Game
The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for their divisional matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals tonight - but the focus this morning shifted to a different kind of headline. According to team sources, one of the Steelers’ young linebackers was disciplined internally after missing the team’s charter flight to Cincinnati due to oversleeping.
The incident occurred early Thursday morning, just hours before the team’s scheduled departure. While the Steelers successfully arrived in Cincinnati for their Week 7 primetime game, the unnamed player was reportedly left behind and had to make alternative travel arrangements.
Head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the matter briefly when asked by reporters, emphasizing accountability and professionalism within the locker room:
“We’re not here to babysit grown men,” Tomlin said firmly. “If you can’t be where you’re supposed to be, when you’re supposed to be there, you’re hurting this team — and that gets handled right away. Discipline isn’t optional in Pittsburgh.”
By Friday morning, team insiders confirmed that the player involved was linebacker Carson Bruener, a defense teams contributor who has impressed in limited snaps this season. While the Steelers have not yet announced the specific disciplinary action, multiple reports suggest he may face a temporary team sanction or reduction in playing time.

Despite the situation, Tomlin reassured that the team’s focus remains on football: “We deal with mistakes like professionals and move forward. This is about maintaining the standard — nothing less.”
The Steelers are set to face the Bengals at Paycor Stadium tonight, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 PM ET. Whether Bruener suits up remains uncertain, but one thing is clear — in Pittsburgh, accountability comes before everything else.










