Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers will head to Acrisure Stadium sir practice on Saturday, the team announced on Friday afternoon.
The weather has been keeping the team off its outdoor practice fields, with both of the team’s practice sessions earlier this week taking place indoors at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Head coach Mike Tomlin has traditionally wanted his team to practice in the elements that they’re going to play in on gamedays, and they’re expected to be playing in frigid conditions on Monday night, with a low temperature in the teens.
“We generally play outside,” Tomlin said. “If the surface is safe, I like to practice in the environment that we play in. But if you lose productivity because of the windage, etc., those are just general decisions that you make that’s best appropriate for the group. In spirit you like the group to practice in the environment that they play in, but if it’s counterproductive, if it’s survival, then certainly you make adaptation.”
The extended cold snap and snowy conditions have left their practice fields at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex frozen solid, making them not a realistic option. The playing surface at Acrisure Stadium has a built-in heating system that keeps it playable in cold weather.
The Steelers have traditionally practiced at their stadium during the playoffs, when they won’t have to play any more games on the grass at the stadium. Too much wear and tear from practices could jeopardize the surface for the team’s final home games. The Steelers have two more regular season home dates and are currently in line to host a Wild Card playoff game.
The playing surface came under fire earlier this season when the Steelers and Cleveland Browns played on a deteriorated grass field that Steelers captain Cam Heyward called it “shit” and blamed it for an injury to fellow captain Miles Killebrew.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Move Saturday’s Practice Session
