Steelers/NFL:
Defensive captain Cameron Heyward officially was placed on injured reserve Thursday by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also promoted a player from the practice squad to help fill the loss of wide receiver Diontae Johnson.
By heading to injured reserve, Heyward will miss at least the next four games after undergoing surgery to repair a groin injury sustained Sunday in a 30-7 loss to San Francisco. The Steelers replaced him on the 53-man roster by promoting wide receiver Dez Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick gives the Steelers another option with Johnson missing the game Monday night against Cleveland with a hamstring injury. A fourth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2021, Fitzpatrick signed a futures contract with the Steelers in January but did not make final roster cuts.
At 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, Fitzpatrick provides a tall target for quarterback Kenny Pickett. The Steelers also made several moves to the practice squad, bringing back cornerback Luq Barcoo and running back Greg Bell, who were released two days prior.
Johnson did not participate in practice Thursday because of his hamstring injury. Neither did running back Anthony McFarland, who sat with a knee injury.
The Steeler host the Browns on Monday night at Acrisure Stadium.
EAGLES 34, VIKINGS 28: The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Minnesota Vikings 34-28 last night in the first game of NFL Week 2.
JETS’ RODGERS UNDERGOES SURGERY:
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg yesterday and reported on Instagram that the procedure “went great.” The season-ending injury occurred during the Jets’ first game of the season against the Buffalo Bills. Rodgers now faces several months of intensive rehab.
Pirates:
Mitch Keller was dominant as Pirates had a 2-0 victory to take three of four games from the Washington Nationals.
Keller (12-9, 4.04 ERA) picked up the win, turning in eight scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out seven.
Offensively, the Pirates (69-78) were propelled by a pair of solo homers from Jack Suwinski in the second and Alfonso Rivas in the fifth.
HS Football
Southmoreland and Knoch
The WPIAL Class 3A teams collide in a nonconference matchup tonight in Saxonburg looking to stay unbeaten.
Hollidaysburg at Butler, 7 p.m.
Pine-Richland at Seneca Valley, 7 p.m.
St. Marys hosts Karns City.
Brookville travels to Moniteau.
College Football:
Slippery Rock vs Millersville Mihalik Thompson Stadium at 5:30 on TRS.
Pitt at WVU in the backyard brawl Saturday at 7:30
Penn State at Illinois at 12 noon Saturday
Boys Soccer:
Butler 2, Fox Chapel 0 – Nick Neubauer and Thomas Sheptak scored.
Knoch 12, Leechburg 0 – Sam Caldwell had a hat trick to power Knoch (4-5, 4-2) past Leechburg (0-5, 0-5) in Section 2-2A.
Seneca Valley 6, Shaler 1 – Cole Kamarec had a hat trick and Tyler Mazanek, Tyler Holloway and Evan Howard added a goal apiece to lead Seneca Valley (8-0, 6-0) to a Section 1-4A win over Shaler (0-7-1, 0-6).
BOYS SOCCER
DISTRICT 9
DuBois 3, Karns City 0
GIRLS SOCCER
DISTRICT 9
Karns City 2, DuBois 1, double overtime.
Girls Volleyball:
Karns City 3, A-C Valley 2 (25-8, 25-21, 23-25, 17-25, 15-4)
Knoch 3, Blackhawk 0 – Karlee Buterbaugh had 11 kills, Sierra Mock added six kills, and Brynne Smith had 12 service points for Knoch in a Section 4-3A win.
Grove City 3, Moniteau 0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-19)
Butler 3 Pine 1
College Football:
Slippery Rock vs Millersville at Mihalik Thompson Statdium at 5:30 on TRS
Pitt at WVU in the backyard braul Saturday at 7:30
Penn State at Illinois at 12 noon Saturday.