Steelers’ backups stumble to loss to Lions
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Sammie Coates (14) fails to come up with a catch against the Detroit Lions during the first half Friday.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Daryl Richardson (38) tackled by Detroit Lions defensive back Isaiah Johnson (43), strong safety Miles Killebrew, top, and defensive back Darrin Walls (30) during the second half of an NFL exhibition football game against the Detroit Lions Friday.
PITTSBURGH – With their offensive stars sitting out, the Steelers sputtered their way through the preseason opener Friday night against the Detroit Lions at Heinz Field.
Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell, DeAngelo Williams and Maurkice Pouncey all watched from the sideline as the Lions overcame a slow start to hand the Steelers a 30-17 defeat in front of a sparse crowd of 44,138.
“It was not the type of football we hoped for,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “We had some big-time negligence in all three phases, some things you can’t have if you want to play winning football.”
The Lions outgained the Steelers 379-187, converted 12 of 19 third-down attempts and got a 96-yard kick return for a score from Dwayne Washington after Pittsburgh had taken a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Second-string quarterback Landry Jones played the entire first half in place of Roethlisberger and had a spotty effort, though he was plagued by some drops, including one by Darrius Heyward-Bey on the opening drive on which Jones perfectly placed the football.
That same duo, however, hooked up in the second quarter for a beautiful pass and catch in the back corner of the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown that gave the Steelers a 14-3 lead late in the second quarter.
“I redeemed myself from earlier, dropping the ball,” Heyward-Bey said.
Jones, who played the entire first half, was 6 of 12 for 55 yards and the one touchdown. He was replaced in the third quarter by veteran Bruce Gradkowski, who left in the third quarter after injuring his hamstring on a scramble.
Jones’ TD throw came after the Steelers took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a defensive score.
Detroit backup quarterback Dan Orlovsky ducked under pressure by Steelers defensive end Ricardo Mathews at the snap and attempted to throw the ball away to his left. The pass turned into an easy interception for cornerback Doran Grant, who returned the pass 39 yards for the game’s first score with 14:15 remaining in the second quarter.
“It was big for him to get going,” said safety Mike Mitchell of Grant. “We want to be a group that creates turnovers. We had Ricardo Mathews applying the pressure. That’s how we want to play, our front gets pressure and our secondary can suffocate once we get that pressure. I was happy to see that.”
Detroit answered with a 29-yard Matt Prater field goal to make it 7-3 before Jones increased the Pittsburgh lead with his throw to Heyward-Bey in the back corner of the end zone.
Orlovsky recovered to throw a 28-yard TD pass to Andre Roberts, and receiver Sammie Coates lost a fumble on the Steelers’ ensuing possession to set up a second Prater field goal that trimmed the Steelers’ lead to 14-13 at the half.
Coates, who is expected to help ease the loss of suspended receiver Martavis Bryant, had a tough night, fumbling twice and struggling to catch the ball.
Running back Daryl Richardson, meanwhile, showed some of the form that made him Steven Jackson’s top backup in St. Louis in 2012 and 2013 before a turf toe injury caused his release. The former Abilene Christian running back led the Steelers with 44 rushing yards on 11 carries and also caught two passes for 16 yards.
“I thought that he did some nice things,” said Tomlin. “I thought his run demeanor was really good. He was aggressive. I saw some good things from him.”
But there weren’t enough of those performances to please Tomlin.
“We’ve got a lot to work on,” Tomlin said. “It’s good to get the group in a stadium, but we have to learn these lessons about what transpired out there, take ownership of it and let that be our guide moving forward.
“Hopefully, we’ll be better the next time. I know that we’ll need to be.”
Safety Ross Ventrone suffered a hamstring injury covering a punt in the first quarter. He did not return. … Linebacker Anthony Chickillo (ankle) and offensive tackle Brian Mihalik (MCL sprain) also were injured and did not return. … Tomlin refused to comment on reports that tight end Ladarius Green is suffering from concussion-related headaches as he remains on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Tomlin would only say Green, who signed a 4-year, $20-million contract in the offseason as a free agent, continues to rehab from an offseason ankle surgery.