Welcome to the Steelers Afternoon Drive, our new daily podcast featuring all the latest Steelers news and analysis.

Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers.

Alan Saunders and Zachary Smith discuss all things Pittsburgh Steelers. On today’s episode, we discuss if the Steelers can get back to the elite defensive performances they’ve had against the Ravens prior to their second matchup last season, if MVS or Adam Thielen could work themselves into Sunday’s game plan, the latest injury report which raises some eyebrows and much more. Let’s go for another Steelers Afternoon Drive and discuss all this!...

Browns

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler cites an anonymous NFL personnel evaluator who points out that the Browns tried to protect QB Shedeur Sanders in Week 13’s loss to the 49ers by calling a lot of screen passes and bootlegs.

“There were a lot of screens and boots [on Sunday vs. San Francisco],” the personnel evaluator said. “You can tell they are trying to protect him, which you want to do with almost all rookie quarterbacks. But overall I thought he looked pretty comfortable in the pocket. He just needs time.”

• Although Dan Graziano of ESPN thinks Sanders made some...

The 2025 Minnesota Vikings season has fallen off a cliff in recent weeks. One of the biggest reasons has been the offense’s struggles this season. It starts with J.J. McCarthy under center because he has struggled as a quarterback in his first full season running the offense. It has been a rough season for McCarthy, and he said many of his struggles have stemmed from overthinking. After being cleared this week, the goal is to stop that.

When talking to the media on Thursday, McCarthy said that he is prone to overthinking in games, especially with his mechanics. He spoke...

The Pittsburgh Steelers have spent much of the last two years trying to upgrade at wide receiver. Since trading Diontae Johnson in March 2024, they’ve struggled to find a solid No. 2 receiver. They tried to add late-season help by claiming veteran Adam Thielen off waivers earlier this week. While there’s some hope that Thielen […]

Despite owning an 8-4 record heading into Week 14, the Philadelphia Eagles are surrounded by criticism due to the lack of firepower from the offense. On Thursday, Jalen Hurts addressed some of the concerns with his own personal game plan.

While talking with media members, the 27-year-old quarterback negated a previous report claiming that he doesn’t want to run the ball as much anymore. Hurts claimed that he’s simply sticking to the team’s weekly game plans with the goal of getting wins, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94 WIP.

“Always been focused on doing whatever it takes to win, and...

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth played only 17 snaps and didn’t receive a single target in Sunday’s embarrassing 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Given Freiermuth’s nearly $13 million cap hit, it’s certainly head-scratching that the fifth-year tight end hasn’t been utilized like in years past this season.

Smith has been utilizing Darnell Washington and Jonnu Smith over Freiermuth. Jonnu Smith has a history with Arthur Smith, as he played for him in Tennessee and Atlanta. Jonnu Smith has not been great, though. He has caught only 30 passes for 190 yards (6.3 average) and two touchdowns...

The Buffalo Bills thought they made a savvy move on Wednesday by releasing cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram to claim Darius Slay off waivers. Instead, all they got was another headache with Slay, while Ingram has since joined the Houston Texans.

Less than a day after his release, the Texans claimed Ingram off waivers on Thursday, they announced on social media. He will immediately join the team and add depth to their secondary.

We have claimed Ja’Marcus Ingram via waivers and made other roster moves. pic.twitter.com/JVW8DxLpXt

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 4, 2025

Meanwhile, the Bills are slowly discovering...

The Lions placed tight end Brock Wright on injured reserve after an injury to his trachea, per a team announcement.

The move comes three weeks after Sam LaPorta went down with a back injury that is expected to end his season. Wright already had a 51% snap share before LaPorta’s injury; in the last two weeks, that number has been over 80%. The fifth-year tight end has not been able to replace LaPorta’s receiving production, or even come close. On 11 targets in his last two games, Wright only has five catches for 37 yards and zero touchdowns. He is...

At the age of 35, and having just eight receptions this year with the Minnesota Vikings, there’s not much excitement around the Steelers picking up Adam Thielen through waivers this week. But that isn’t stopping him from remaining confident as he starts his new endeavor in Pittsburgh. “I’ve always had a lot of confidence in […]

Commanders

• Commanders HC Dan Quinn said QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) will get “a lot of reps” in practice this week, but he still hasn’t been cleared for contact. They will decide his availability on Friday: “Optimistic he’ll get a lot of reps in practice, but I’m going to take it all the way through Friday… We’ll have to simulate as much as we can… He has not been cleared for contact.” (Nicki Jhabvala)
• Daniels was listed as a full participant in practice on Thursday. (Commanders)

Eagles

Eagles OC Kevin Patullo said that he can handle criticism,...

The Detroit Lions are once again back in the prime time spotlight, but this time in a bumpier spot than normal.

Riddled with late season injuries once more, the Lions need a win against the Dallas Cowboys tonight on “Thursday Night Football” on their precarious road to the playoffs.

With the stakes so high, national media writers and analysts certainly have a lot to say about this matchup, take a look.

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: Cowboys 34, Lions 33

“This is a playoff game. Both teams need it in the worst way. Dallas has come alive the past two...

The Pittsburgh Steelers added some depth to their wide receiver room earlier this week, claiming Adam Thielen off waivers after the Minnesota Vikings decided to part ways with him. Thielen wanted the opportunity to play for a team contending for the playoffs, especially since this will be his last season in the league.

Thielen now has the pleasure of catching passes from Aaron Rodgers to end his career, but he also has a lot to learn in a short amount of time. Thielen was asked about how it’s been learning a Rodgers-led offense, and he was honest about the new...