Rodgers and Steelers Triumph Over Dolphins with Resurgent Castoffs

PITTSBURGH — Aaron Rodgers grinned as he scanned the field rating and shouted out the names of his teammates who helped the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Miami Dolphins 28-15 on “Monday Evening Soccer.”

Kenneth Gainwell. Connor Heyward. Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Asante Samuel Jr. Adam Thielen.

To the quarterback, all of them had one thing in frequent.

“There’s some castoffs when you take a look at our roster, which makes it actually particular,” Rodgers stated with a smile, including that he would not take into account himself a castoff. “Kenny Gainwell signed a next-to-nothing contract. Connor Heyward, an afterthought, had a landing run. Marquez has been on a pair groups. Adam Thielen received reduce. Samuel was on the road for a very long time. So says so much concerning the character of the fellows we introduced in.”

Rodgers, who posted his highest completion share since 2014, linked with eight completely different receivers because the Steelers scored touchdowns on 4 consecutive drives for the primary time since Week 2 of the 2018 season. He accomplished 23 of 27 passes (85.2%) for 224 yards.

Each Heyward and Valdes-Scantling scored touchdowns within the win. Heyward’s rating gave the Steelers their first factors of the sport with a tush push on third-and-1 simply earlier than halftime. Then, the Steelers double-dipped with a 19-yard landing strike from Rodgers to Valdes-Scantling on their first possession of the third quarter for a 14-3 lead.

After connecting with Valdes-Scantling for a rating for the primary time for the reason that pair performed for the Inexperienced Bay Packers in 2021, Rodgers met the large receiver, who was signed to the 53-man roster earlier within the day, with a smile.

“Joyful to have you ever again,” Rodgers stated to him.

“It is simply who he’s, spreading the ball round,” Valdes-Scantling stated. “He is not afraid to throw it to anyone. If you may get open, he’ll discover you.”

Rodgers discovered Gainwell most frequently Monday evening. Gainwell, who signed a one-year deal for $1.79 million in free company, caught all seven targets for 46 yards, and he added 80 yards speeding on 13 carries.

“He’s tremendous sensible, and I nonetheless can not imagine what we received him for,” Rodgers stated. “I instructed him a very long time in the past my aim was to get him paid, as a result of I have been a fan of his since he was in Philly and thought that each time he went within the recreation one thing good occurs. … He is as fluid as anyone on the group catching the soccer. For a man that is making rattling close to a vet minimal, he is been an incredible asset to our group this yr.”

And regardless that left sort out Dylan Prepare dinner did not present up within the field rating, the fourth-string offensive lineman — who was lately elevated to the energetic roster and made his first profession begin — earned reward from coach Mike Tomlin.

“I positively thought he was above the road, however it was additionally our job to help him schematically,” Tomlin stated. “Each issues occurred. He is one other instance of a man upholding the usual. We have absorbed some attrition to say the least at that place. He was a part of a successful effort tonight. He is deserving of congratulations for that.”

On the opposite facet of the ball, the Steelers received a lift from Samuel, who made his first begin as a Steeler with cornerback James Pierre sidelined due to a calf harm. Samuel wasted little time making an impression as he intercepted Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa within the first quarter.

“There’s some castoffs when you take a look at our roster, which makes it actually particular. Kenny Gainwell signed a subsequent to nothing contract. Connor Heyward, an afterthought, had a landing run. Marquez has been on a pair groups. Adam Thielen received reduce. Samuel was on the road for a very long time. So says so much concerning the character of the fellows we introduced in.”

Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers

Samuel initially joined the group on the apply squad in November, simply seven months after present process spinal fusion surgical procedure.

“It is a testomony to guys shopping for in,” defensive sort out Cam Heyward stated. “Coach all the time talks about leaping on a transferring practice. These guys are professionals. I am watching, as quickly as Thielen will get right here, he is opening up his playbook and nonetheless finding out. They spend so much time actually studying the offense, studying the protection. Asante has been actually chomping on the bit to get reps, and he performed very properly with them.”

With the win, the Steelers additional bolstered their spot atop the AFC North over the Baltimore Ravens and earned their first set of back-to-back wins since late September into early October.

“It is massive, particularly proper now,” linebacker Patrick Queen stated. “Simply a part of the season that is while you create momentum. … I feel we went by all of the stuff that we went by to arrange us to enter what we received. It is going to be three extraordinarily powerful video games, however we received the fellows to do it.”