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Steelers Coach McCarthy Injured, Steelers Overcome 13-Point Deficit
· Confirmed
In Short: Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy was injured during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent halftime in the medical tent.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy was injured during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, limping off the field at halftime as the Steelers trailed 13-0.
McCarthy hurt his ankle on the sideline and was seen limping across the field toward the visiting locker room at Raymond James Stadium before turning and walking slowly toward the tent behind the Steelers’ bench.
Despite his injury, McCarthy returned to the sideline for the second half with the Steelers trailing 13-3.
McCarthy credited the Steelers' medical staff for making sure he was able to stay on the sideline and said he was able to communicate with the team from the tent while assistant head coach/secondary coach Joe Whitt Jr. handled the duties.
The Steelers overcame a 13-point, second-half deficit to win 26-19 in overtime.
McCarthy expressed relief at the team's performance, saying the medical staff and the Steelers overcoming a 13-point deficit made him feel a lot better.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers noted that not much happens at halftime, anyway, and McCarthy said he did not recommend spending time in the injury tent.
McCarthy later expressed regret for a heated exchange with Rodgers during a loss to the Cleveland Browns, where the Steelers were outgained 372-361 and Rodgers' Hail Mary attempt was intercepted to seal the Browns' win.
What this adds
WarpBeat previously reported that McCarthy was limping and in pain during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spending halftime in the medical tent.
Background
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy was limping and in pain during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, spending halftime in the medical tent.
What's confirmed
- “I don’t recommend it,” McCarthy said of his time in the injury tent.
- Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that not much happens at halftime, anyway.
- McCarthy was limping across the field toward the visiting locker room at Raymond James Stadium before turning and walking slowly toward the tent behind the Steelers’ bench.
- He returned to the sideline for the second half with the Steelers trailing 13-3.
- “Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but everybody’s competing on the field,” McCarthy said.
What's still developing
- Now, I'm not the best lip reader, but I don't think Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy were exchanging too many happy words here. pic.twitter.com/FFQ7h9zA4P Despite the outburst, the Steelers wound up finishing a methodical 17-play series in the Browns' end zone.
- Mike Tomlin, who guided the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 seasons and won Super Bowl XLIII, is now in broadcasting, freeing him up to make his opinions and insights public.
- Appearing on Pro Football Focus' "NFL Show," Tomlin called Myles Garrett, the longtime Cleveland Brown and current Los Angeles Rams pass rusher, the "best damn player in football." And Tomlin would know, as his Steelers play the Browns twice a season as AFC North rivals.
- With backup quarterback Michael Penix Jr. already ruled out with an injury, veteran backup Cooper Rush will start under center for the Falcons when they travel to face the Steelers on the road.
- (Atlanta News First) — The Atlanta Falcons will be down to their third-string quarterback for the 2026 NFL regular season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy is sticking to the narrative of a reported back injury for Joey Porter Jr. following Week 1, claiming that the star cornerback is still in a “ramp-up” phase as a stalemate over his lucrative contract and trade rumors continue.
- While McCarthy claims that communication with Porter is positive and anticipates the star defender's return once he is fully cleared, the situation is more complicated behind the scenes.
- Greenlaw ended up playing in just eight games and after the season said he preferred Shanahan's liberal use of “vet days” to Payton's hard workouts during the week.
- Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Friday afternoon that Tagovailoa is dealing with an oblique injury and Cooper Rush will be the team's starting quarterback for their Week 1 road matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Catch Rush and the Falcons in action against the Steelers on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
- Wednesday, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell told reporters that Wentz will back up Murray, making McCarthy the third-string quarterback.
- Ironically, a quarterback-needy team like the Cardinals, still in search of its long-term replacement at the position to fill the void left by Murray, suddenly makes sense as a team that could take a flier on McCarthy.