Logo

REPORT: Pittsburgh Steelers Discipline Rookie After He Showed Up to Practice Drunk

28 views

Ke'Shawn Williams

Pittsburgh, PA — In the wake of head coach Mike Tomlin announcing a lighter practice schedule for the bye week—giving the team time to rest after a dramatic 24–21 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland—the Pittsburgh Steelers have been hit with an internal scandal. According to reliable team sources, rookie wide receiver Ke’Shawn Williams has been disciplined after showing up to a midweek practice visibly intoxicated.

The incident occurred after Tomlin promised a “sweet bye week” with fewer official sessions to help players recover from injuries and adjust to the time zone following the long flight. “We won’t have a formal open practice this week,” Tomlin told reporters after the game, emphasizing it as a well-earned reward for the team’s 3–1 start. However, the relaxed approach appears to have led to a misstep by Williams—an undrafted free agent (UDFA) prospect out of Indiana—who signed a three-year, $2.975 million deal with the Steelers in April.

Per reports from ESPN and Steelers Depot, Williams—born in 2001 in Philadelphia—attended a private party on Sunday night, just hours after the team returned from Dublin. At Monday’s light session at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, the 23-year-old (5'9", 187 lbs) allegedly showed signs of impairment, including a strong smell of alcohol and unsteady behavior. Assistant coaches quickly removed him from the field, prompting an emergency meeting with team leadership.

Tomlin, known for his no-nonsense discipline, did not budge. “Discipline is the foundation of everything we build here,” he said at a brief Tuesday presser, without naming Williams directly. Internal sources say the rookie has been suspended from practice for at least one week, coupled with mandatory counseling focused on personal responsibility and time management. If there is a repeat offense, Williams risks being released from the practice squad—where he is competing for a promotion to the active roster after an impressive preseason.

Williams, who transferred from Wake Forest to Indiana and posted 39 receptions, 448 yards, and 5 TDs last season, had been touted as a “sleeper preseason standout” thanks to his short-to-intermediate route running and return potential. The episode evokes memories of prior rookie scandals in Pittsburgh—such as Alameda Ta’amu’s 2012 DUI arrest. With the team battling injuries to Joey Porter Jr., Alex Highsmith, and Jalen Ramsey, Williams’s actions are viewed as “a significant blow” to locker-room morale.

A Steelers spokesperson declined detailed comment, reiterating only the organization’s commitment to “holistic development for young players.” With 13 straight games ahead after the bye, Tomlin hopes this proves a costly lesson that refocuses Williams—and the entire team—on securing their first playoff berth since 2016.

The Steelers return in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. Will Williams redeem himself in time? We’ll see.

Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side