Brooke Pryor, ESPN Staff Writer January 6, 2024, 10:39 p.m. ET
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- He previously covered the Kansas City Chiefs for the Kansas City Star and Oklahoma University for the Oklahoman.
BALTIMORE – Mike Tomlin walked off a rain-soaked field at M&T Bank Stadium Saturday night, shouting three words over and over again as he and his team began their victory march to the visitors' locker room.
“Get off the couch,” the Pittsburgh Steelers coach said emphatically, shouting in his booming voice alongside defensive captain Cameron Heyward.
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Because without the contributions of inside linebacker Myles Jack and safety Eric Rowe, two players who were called up from the practice squad for the game and unsigned for most of the NFL season, the Steelers might not be in this situation: on the cusp to a playoff spot after having just a 4 percent chance of reaching the postseason less than a month ago. On Saturday, the Steelers (10-7) capped their regular season with a 17-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens (13-4), ending a three-game winning streak that seemed unlikely during the previous three-game losing streak , which nearly dashed their playoff hopes.
And in Saturday's win, two of the most important plays wouldn't have been possible without these “couch” guys. Although Mark Robinson was officially blamed for Melvin Gordon III's forced fumble in the second quarter, Jack was in the game and helped Robinson with the tackle. Then, in the fourth quarter, Rowe knocked the ball out of Gus Edwards' hand and the Steelers turned it into a game-winning field goal.
“I can’t say enough about Eric Rowe, man, on another side [practice squad] Height, made another significant play on this punch-out. His efforts, Myles Jack's efforts, just solidified us in some positions where we were really short on personnel. These two guys were important not just today but over the last three weeks.
Less than two months ago, both Jack and Rowe were sitting at home on their couches. While Rowe waited for his next opportunity after being released from the Carolina Panthers' practice squad on September 19, Jack was officially retired and exploring life outside of football while working on his pilot's license and buying a minor league hockey team.
But with injuries and a suspension decimating Pittsburgh's safeties and inside linebackers, both received calls from the Steelers in late November. And on November 20, Rowe and Jack were added to the training group.
A month after arriving in Pittsburgh, the pair were elevated from the practice squad to the active gameday squad for the Dec. 23 game against the visiting Cincinnati Bengals and immediately made an impact. Rowe caught an interception and returned it 25 yards, while Jack had a sack, two quarterback hits and a tackle for loss.
“I told my friends and my wife, I don't know why I'm sitting at home,” said Rowe, 31. “I'm still a good player. I can play. A lot of it was because of my age and injury history, but man, forget all that. I am good and healthy. That's why I'm glad I did it.” Show it out there on the field.
The following week, with the Seattle Seahawks, Rowe and Jack, 28, led the Steelers with 10 and 8 tackles, respectively. Rowe also had a tackle for loss.
Rowe led the Steelers in tackles against the Ravens with 12, while Jack contributed with three.
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“I've played with Eric my entire career, so anything he does is no surprise to me,” Steelers inside linebacker Elandon Roberts said. “His tackles in the open field, his ball awareness, his short-term interceptions… his intellect as a player. It’s so dynamic.”
“And as for Myles, I told him that I am very grateful to him because at the same time there is no selfishness with us. Myles has definitely allowed me to be the alpha dog, but at the same time when I need to lean on him. “I can rely on him. And I feel like Myles did a great job and is still doing a great job at his part, and I can't wait to get into the postseason with them.”
Technically still a member of the practice squad, Rowe has 29 combined tackles, one interception and the forced fumble in three starts, while Jack has 17 combined tackles, one sack, two quarterback hits and one tackle for loss in three appearances with one start.
“I don’t know how he wasn’t on a damn team, man,” Heyward said of Rowe. “This guy is just completely crazy and we needed everything.”
Rowe and Jack are just two additions the Steelers made to address an undermanned defense that resulted in season-ending injuries to inside linebackers Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander and multiple losses to safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick, Keanu Neal, Trenton Thompson and Damontae Kazee led. The Steelers also signed contributions from inside linebackers Blake Martinez, who was retired for a year before joining the Panthers' practice squad, and Mykal Walker, who was on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad, and received game-day donations.
And before his injury, Thompson appeared as a practice player in Fitzpatrick's absence, became an active roster player, appeared in six games and secured an interception.
“To get a guy off the couch and get him to play the way he’s playing right now is a testament to the coaching staff that the guys like.” [secondary coach] Grady [Brown] and AC [inside linebackers coach Aaron Curry] for preparing them,” Heyward said. “But it’s also a testament to the players who jumped on the bandwagon and really performed for us.”
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Spears: TJ Watt “means everything to the team”
Marcus Spears explains why TJ Watt's injury could be a major problem for the Steelers if he were to miss time.
With TJ Watt fearing a Grade 3 MCL sprain, sources tell Adam Schefter that the Steelers may still need to find another remedy if they make the playoffs to make up for his absence. This time, however, no guy would likely be able to get off the couch to compete for Defensive Player of the Year.
“Not unless Lawrence Taylor has a few more snaps left in him,” Jack said. “There aren’t many people like TJ Watt.”
The Steelers would have to make some tough decisions if they want to keep Rowe and Jack on the field in the playoffs. With three promotions this season, Rowe and Jack will need to be included in the active squad in order to take part in a game for the remainder of the season. Additionally, Fitzpatrick, who has been inactive for the past three weeks, is eager to play if the Steelers clinch a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Kazee's suspension is ended and he is reinstated.
“That’s depth,” Rowe said. “Anytime we get Minkah back, he’s obviously an All-Pro player. You can't just let him sit on the sidelines. So we're going to get him back. We need all hands on deck for the playoffs.”
Before Rowe competed on Saturday, he spoke in defense at the team hotel on Friday evening. He told his teammates how grateful he was for the opportunity and that he knew he was a late addition to a team that already had chemistry, but he just wanted to add value in any way he could. With the Steelers on the verge of a once-improbable postseason berth, it's safe to say he – and his former couch-sitter colleague Jack – are doing just that.
“Every team I’m on, the whole goal is just to add value to the team,” Rowe said. “If you don’t add value, you’re not good for the team, right? So the whole goal when I got the call was just to play. I was immediately put into the starting eleven. Just like, man, how can I add value to the team? I don't want to be out here, just another guy out here.
“So, it means a lot to me to do this, man.”