Live Wire: McFarland inactive ... Miami loss clinches playoff spot ... Williams feeling 'great'

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Welcome to our new Steelers Live Wire, a round-the-clock feature that offers news that's fast, friendly to use and fun. The previous entry's right here.

As they say, here we go ...

WILLIAMS FEELING 'GREAT'

7:50 p.m. Sunday: Vince Williams went on Instagram Live on Sunday night and spoke about how he's feeling while on the Reserve/COVID-19 List.

"Not going to lie, guys, I'm feeling much better," he said with a laugh. "Oh, man, I was down bad earlier today. I was down bad. I feel great now, though. I feel great right now. About to watch the Steelers take care of business." -- Taylor

GO TO GAME FILE!

7 p.m. Sunday: Reminder: We all migrate to the game file on game night, including postgame reaction, after which we'll migrate right back. -- DK

McFARLAND INACTIVE

6:50 p.m. Sunday: Well, Randy Fichtner won't be able to throw downfield to Anthony McFarland on fourth-and-1 tonight. McFarland's among the Steelers' inactives, released just now, also including Joe Haden, Josh Dobbs, Derwin Gray, Kevin Rader and Isaiah Buggs. The Bills' inactives are quarterback Jake Fromm, tight end Tyler Kroft, running back T.J. Yeldon, defensive end Trent Murphy and safety Jaquan Johnson. -- DK

STEELERS CLINCH PLAYOFF
SPOT WITH MIAMI LOSS

4:07 p.m. Sunday: No matter what else happens tonight, the Steelers know they're headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. That was clinched when the Chiefs came back from a 10-0 deficit to beat the Dolphins, 33-27. Miami falls to 8-5 with the loss. The Steelers can clinch the AFC North title this weekend, as well. But they need to win tonight against the Bills and then wait and see if the Browns lose Monday night against the Ravens. -- Lolley

THERE THEY GO ...

1:52 p.m. Sunday: The Steelers leave Pittsburgh International Airport. The team's got 100 photos up from this. -- DK

WILLIAMS FEELING COVID-19

1:06 p.m. Sunday: If you had any question as to whether NFL players feel the effects of COVID-19, see this Vince Williams tweet from today:

Williams was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 List Thursday by the Steelers and is obviously feeling ill. That could put his status for next week's game -- Monday night in Cincinnati -- in doubt, as well. -- Lolley

STEELERS ACTIVATE GILBERT,
PLACE SPILLANE ON IR

3:55 p.m. Saturday: The Steelers just activated inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert from injured reserve. He had been placed on IR Nov. 4 with a back injury. 

He is expected to see snaps at inside linebacker Sunday against the Bills along with Avery Williamson and Marcus Allen. In addition to Spillane, Vince Williams (COVID-19) is out for this game. 

To make room for Gilbert on the roster, Robert Spillane (knee) was placed on injured reserve. The team also elevated inside linebacker Tegray Scales from their practice squad for this game. -- Lolley

TEAM TO TRAVEL
SUNDAY TO BUFFALO

1:07 p.m. Saturday: Almost always, the Steelers travel to a road city the day before the game. Not this time. They'll fly up tomorrow instead.

Spokesman Burt Lauten just released a statement: “Due to a number of schedule adjustments which resulted in the Steelers playing on a short week two weeks in a row, we requested and were approved by the League Office to travel on game day to Buffalo for our Sunday night game. . Our preparations and meetings will be conducted in Pittsburgh Saturday evening, and the team will then fly to Buffalo on Sunday morning and continue day-of-game preparations upon arrival in Buffalo.” -- Carter

WALK-THROUGH TODAY

2:18 a.m. Saturday: The Steelers will have a final walk-through today, 10:30 a.m. -- never media coverage on those -- on the South Side before their trip up to Buffalo. Right around that time, Dale Lolley's one-of-a-kind Kickoff will go live, with all our picks. -- DK

VANCE'S FULL SESSION

3:55 p.m. Friday: You will want to watch this. Vance McDonald, the Steelers' nominee for Walter Payton Man Of The Year for his charitable work, spoke with us today, and he was exceptional. -- DK

NO HADEN SUNDAY,
CLAYPOOL RETURNS

3:11 p.m. Friday: The Steelers won't have Joe Haden available against the Bills. He didn't clear concussion protocol. Cam Sutton is expected to start in his place. They will have Chase Claypool. He returned to practice today after missing Thursday with an illness. 

Of course, the Steelers will also be without both starting inside linebackers, Vince Williams (COVID) and Robert Spillane (knee). 

The final participation report is below. -- Lolley

BILLS' CLEAN SLATE

3:08 p.m. Friday: One special teams dude is out. That's it. Most significant for Buffalo, Josh Allen made it through a clean week of practice despite lingering leg issues. -- DK

WATT LAUDS WILLIAMSON'S
PROFESSIONALISM

1:10 p.m. Friday: With Avery Williamson set to start -- next to Marcus Allen -- at inside linebacker Sunday against the Bills. Williamson has been with the team a little over a month, after coming over from the Jets, but T.J. Watt has seen good things from the six-year veteran.

"I feel like he's done a great job since he's been here of trying to learn as much as he can and embrace the culture here," Watt said. "He's done a great job in practice of being vocal."

The Steelers (11-1) and coming off their first loss, know this is a big game against the 9-3 Bills, one that could be a preview for a rematch in January.

"All parties know it's going to be a big-time game," Watt said. "We want to get the loss out of our mind." -- Lolley

POUNCEY ACTIVATED, WILL PLAY

11:45 a.m. Friday: The Steelers pushed their practice time back from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. today. And perhaps they did so with the thought that would be when Maurkice Pouncey would be cleared to return to the team, because Pouncey was just activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 List, and he will play Sunday. 

He had missed the past two games after going on the COVID-19 List Dec. 2, hours before the Steelers played the Ravens. J.C. Hassenauer had started in his place. -- Lolley

WILLIAMSON FEELS 
HE'S UP TO THE TASK

10:30 a.m. Friday: Avery Williamson will make his first start for the Steelers since coming over from the Jets via a trade in early November. That will happen because both Vince Williams and Robert Spillane will miss the game against the Bills on Sunday. Williams was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 List Thursday, while Spillane has a sprained knee.

Williamson is expected to start next to converted safety Marcus Allen. I covered the situation here.

"(I'm) super excited," Williamson said. "I definitely hated, especially with Rob, to get that injury. Thankfully it's nothing that needed surgery. Vince too. I'm super excited and ready for this opportunity. I've been a starter for a long time and I'm just ready to go out and prove myself again."

Williamson played against the Bills earlier this season, making 13 tackles in an 18-10 loss to Buffalo while with the Jets.

"They definitely have some tendencies," Williamson said. "We game planned pretty well for them with the Jets. It was a close game. I'm definitely going to use some of that."

Williamson, who has started 81 of the 90 career games in which he has appeared, had been rotating in with Williams and Spillane the past two weeks, so he has a better understanding now of the defense than when he first got to Pittsburgh.

"I feel a whole lot better with where I'm at. I thought I was ready the first week I got here. But I wasn't," he said. "It took some time. I've never been in this kind of situation. The playbook isn't too crazy, so that helped out a lot. I feel a lot more comfortable."

He'll be lining up next to a less experienced player whether the Steelers do, indeed, go with Allen beside him or if it's Ulysees Gilbert, who is expected to be activated from injured reserve. Neither has ever started an NFL game.

"We've got to make sure the communication is well. I'll be letting them know what they need. I'm confident they're going to be good, whoever is in there next to me. We'll be solid," said Williamson, who noted he was making the defensive play calls last week against Washington after Spillane was injured in the third quarter.

The coaching staff hasn't told Williamson whether he will be the communicator again this week, but that seems somewhat likely.

"We'll see what the coaches are going to do," Williamson said. "I've worn the green dot pretty much my whole career. Didn't do it this last year with the Jets. But if they want me to be the green dot, I can jump right in." -- Lolley

YEAH, BUT WILL THEY
LET THE KID PLAY?

7:24 p.m. Thursday: Congrats to Derek Watt and family. -- DK

BOSWELL BACK AT PRACTICE,
CLAYPOOL OUT WITH ILLNESS

3:50 p.m. Thursday: The Steelers not only didn't have Vince Williams available at practice today, but Chase Claypool was out with an illness. It's not a COVID-19 positive test at this point, though. On the good news front, Chris Boswell was back at practice and kicking. Claypool was the only new addition today.

And here's Buffalo's participation report today, for the Bills' first full practice of the week, shows Josh Allen still going full. -- Lolley

WILLIAMS ON COVID LIST,
LEAVING ILB SHORT

3:30 p.m. Thursday: The hits just keep coming at inside linebacker. And not in a good way.

Vince Williams was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 List by the team Thursday, meaning it will be without Devin Bush, Robert Spillane and Williams -- its top three inside linebackers -- Sunday night against the Bills. Bush is in IR with a torn ACL, while Spillane will miss this game with a sprained knee.

Avery Williamson and Marcus Allen would be next up on the team's depth chart, though Ulysees Gilbert, who is on IR with a back issue, began practicing this week and could be activated before Sunday's game. -- Lolley

SUTTON TRYING
TO KEEP LEVEL HEAD

1:45 p.m. Thursday: Cam Sutton has seen his snaps increase this season with injuries to Mike Hilton, Steven Nelson and now Joe Haden. But the fourth-year veteran has kept his head on straight regardless of moving all over the defense.

And he also has his head on straight when it comes to the Steelers finally losing a game, 23-17, earlier this week to Washington. Despite the loss, the Steelers are still in the No. 1 position in the AFC playoff chase.

"Not to say you don't think about the undefeated season," Sutton said when asked about the first loss in 12 games. "We have a big goal, but if we don't take care of that week in and week out, none of that happens. If we're not taking care of business, we don't get those opportunities. We're looking forward to Buffalo. If anybody tells you any different, they're in this for the wrong reasons." -- Lolley

FICHTNER SAYS SHORT WEEKS
COULD LEAD TO DROPS

10:50 a.m. Thursday: Randy Fichtner said some of the drops in the past two weeks could be a result of the Steelers' receivers losing some focus on short work weeks -- at least that's his hope.

He also said those short work weeks have led to the receivers not getting an opportunity to work with Ben Roethlisberger.

"I really like the group. We know it's a skillful group. I know somewhere lost in this is the concentration," Fichtner said. "They're all capable of making magnificent catches. ... That's focus. That's preparedness. I hate to say Ben in these shorter weeks hasn't practiced. There's something to getting back to basic practice schedules where Ben can throw to these receivers. I'm looking forward to getting back to that today."

• Fichtner also said the sporadic practices the past couple of weeks have hurt the team in terms of its use of pre-snap and jet sweep motions.

"Shorter weeks and less practice time," Fichtner said. "I definitely think it can help us. There is a balance of that with our no-huddle and muddle huddle. I do believe we can get back to what we think can help us."

• Fichtner also took the blame for the team's lack of commitment to the running game in short-yardage situations. The Steelers failed on five shots from the 1-yard line against Washington and then two failures in short yardage late in the game. The Steelers ran the ball four times, but threw it three, including a tackle eligible pass to Jerald Hawkins on third and inches from the 1.

"I know I can be more committed to running," he said. "Maybe it took four committed runs from the one instead of trying to fool them." -- Lolley

BUTLER LIKES WHAT HE SAW
FROM ALEX HIGHSMITH

10:30 a.m. Thursday: Rookie Alex Highsmith started his first game on Monday against Washington and finished the game with five tackles. Keith Butler liked what he saw: "I thought he was good. I never worried about Alex," Butler said. "He did a good job for us. There's a couple of things he can improve on, but he's going to keep getting better the more he plays." 

• Butler on his inside linebackers' pass coverage and if Marcus Allen will play more because Vince Williams and Avery Williamson are now the starter with Robert Spillane out:  "We're going to see. We're going to have to do what we can and play together and know what each other is doing. Avery hasn't been with us for training camp and stuff like that. But he's been with us a few weeks now. He'll have a pretty good idea of what he's doing. -- Lolley

JUJU BELIEVES TOMLIN'S
WORDS ON BENCHINGS

9:15 a.m.: Thursday, Mike Tomlin said if drops continue to be an issue for the Steelers, some players could find themselves on the bench. JuJu Smith-Schuster knows his coach isn't bluffing.

"It's motivation," Smith-Schuster said. "Coach T has always been transparent. If you can't do your job, we'll get someone to do it. That's something he has always aid. He has fired players and brought in new guys. That is not something new. He id definitely right about that. Some people take it differently. For us as a team, we take it very personal and it's motivation to get better and catch the balls."

We'll see how that plays out this week. -- Lolley

IT'S COORDINATOR THURSDAY

3:17 a.m. Thursday: Today's the only day of the week we evil reporter types can question the coordinators, Randy Fichtner and Keith Butler, which we'll do at 10:30 and 10:45 a.m., respectively. At 9 a.m., it's JuJu Smith-Schuster. Practice is noon to 2 p.m., after which it'll be Cam Sutton and Alex Highsmith. Dale Lolley will be at the Rooney Complex covering, and I'll be completing a Grind that can't be done until I hear from Fichtner. -- DK

CONFIRMED

7:45 p.m. Wednesday: Could be a whole column. -- DK

NELSON BACK AT PRACTICE,
BOSWELL SITS OUT

3:40 p.m. Wednesday: Steven Nelson returned to practice today for the Steelers after missing Monday's game with some soreness in his knee. That was the good news. The bad was that placekicker Chris Boswell (hip) and cornerback Joe Haden (concussion) did not practice, though Boswell was at the workout today. Defensive lineman Chris Wormley also missed today because of an illness. The rest of the guys who did not practice were given the day off. -- Lolley

BILLS' ALLEN HURTING?

3:38 p.m. Wednesday: The Bills' first participation report of the week is out:

The glaring name on the Buffalo list is that of Josh Allen, but he also was a full participant in the Bills' walk-through and, remember, the Bills also played Monday night. -- DK

HEYWARD EXPECTS REBOUND

1:45 p.m. Wednesday: It was just Cam Heyward's turn to talk.

He didn't sound downtrodden after practice despite the Steelers suffering their first loss. In fact, he feels the team will be better for it, saying, "We've got our first loss. We need to appreciate it, learn from it and grow," Heyward said. "Soon this is going to be a single-elimination tournament."

The Steelers didn't force a turnover for just the second time this season in the loss to Washington. But they had some chances. Heyward also pointed to a fourth-down stop by Mike Hilton and a potential fourth-down stop at the goal line that was negated by a hold called on T.J. Watt that could have counted as turnovers: "We got our hands on a couple of balls. But whether it was a pick or whether the ball was on the ground and we didn't get it, we just didn't capitalize in those situations. We need to make those plays and get the ball back for our offense." -- Lolley

STEELERS ACTIVATE CONNER,
GILBERT WILL PRACTICE

12:05 p.m. Wednesday: The Steelers have activated running back James Conner off the Reserve/COVID-19 List. Conner had missed the past two games while on that list, with Benny Snell gaining 75 yards on 23 carries.

Conner is expected to play Sunday against the Bills.

The Steelers also announced that Ulysees Gilbert (back) will return to practice today. Gilbert remains on IR and will have 21 days to return to the active roster or remain on season-ending IR. The Steelers could use Gilbert as a depth piece with Robert Spillane out this week and probably next because of a knee injury. Avery Williamson is expected to take his place beside Vince Williams in the starting lineup this week.

The Steelers also signed defensive lineman Cassius Marsh off the practice squad of the Colts. Marsh (6-4, 254) will be an outside linebacker for the Steelers. He has played for the Seahawks, 49ers, Cardinals, Colts and Jaguars, appearing in 91 career games with nine starts. Marsh has 14 career sacks. -- Lolley

BEN TAKES SOME
BLAME FOR RUNS

11:50 a.m. Wednesday: Ben Roethlisberger spoke to the media today and took some of the blame for the team's lack of a running game. The Steelers have averaged 19 rushing attempts and 57 yards over their last five games after averaging 28 rushing attempts and 118 yards per game in their first seven.  

"Hopefully we get it fixed," Roethlisberger said. "If I had or we had the answers, it would be fixed. Sometimes, it's me on RPOs and I should have handed it off at times."

• Roethlisberger also took himself to task for his throw to rookie Anthony McFarland on fourth-and-1 late in the fourth quarter of the 23-17 loss to Washington, saying McFarland had linebacker Jon Bostic beaten. Roethlisberger threw it as a back-shoulder throw. 

"I shouldn't put a rookie running back in a situation to make a wide receiver catch," Roethlisberger said.

• Roethlisberger will be happy to get Maurkice Pouncey back off the Reserve/COVID-19 List sometime later this week. J.C. Hassenauer has started the past two games at center with Pouncey out. Pouncey went on the COVID List Dec. 2. He would be eligible to come off the list Friday.

"Pouncey is Pouncey," Roethlisberger said. "He is a comfort blanket. He's a Hall of Fame center in my opinion. Emotionally, mentally, he is the lynchpin up front. They feel more comfortable. I feel more comfortable if we can get him back." -- Lolley

BUSY, BUSY WEDNESDAY

3:51 a.m. Wednesday: Tons happening on the South Side today, beginning with Ben Roethlisberger's weekly availability at 11:45 a.m., followed by the week's first practice a half-hour later, followed by time with Cam Heyward and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Dale Lolley will be right there to cover it.

Ramon Foster really brings it on the struggling running game with his weekly column that's freshly up, and all I've got is this little podcast. -- DK

MUTUAL RESPECT

9:42 p.m. Tuesday: Love this nugget from NFL Films just now. -- DK

TOMLIN EXPECTS TRIO
BACK AGAINST BILLS

12:17 p.m. Tuesday: Robert Spillane suffered a knee injury in the team's 23-17 loss to Washington and is expected to miss at least a couple of weeks, though Mike Tomlin said just now, "He has a knee injury that is still being evaluated. I don't know about his availability at this time."

Joe Haden, who left in the fourth quarter, suffered a concussion, will have his status determined by how quickly he gets through concussion protocol. That can take several days, but as a veteran, Haden could still play if he can get through protocol by Saturday. That could be made more difficult by the fact the Steelers played Monday, but we'll see.

As for the bevy of other players missing from Monday's game, Tomlin was optimistic about Steven Nelson, saying he is expected to return to practice this week after sitting out with a knee issue. Tomlin also said he expects Maurkice Pouncey and James Conner to return off the Reserve/COVID-19 List this week. Both have missed the past two games. Tomlin also said he is hopeful placekicker Chris Boswell will be back this week after sitting out Monday's game with a hip injury.

Tomlin also took a pretty hard look at his team's offensive troubles, saying the team has lost its physicality in short-yardage situations and even remarking that all options are open toward changing play-calling. I wrote all about that here. -- Lolley

TOMLIN ON TAP TODAY

4:34 a.m. Tuesday: After a few days of scheduling weirdness, the Steelers' schedule will begin to resume normal shape today with Mike Tomlin having a noon press conference on his usual day. Of greatest importance, probably, will be any health updates on Joe Haden and/or Robert Spillane. Dale Lolley will cover. 

Here's all our premium game coverage, and below is my podcast:

Our Morning Java episode was lost in production. -- DK

ACTING RELEVANT

10:21 p.m. Monday: The Browns can be so cute. -- DK

WHY WAS CLOCK HALTED?
BLANDINO EXPLAINS IT TO US

9:41 p.m. Monday: Washington's Alex Smith was not credited with a carry, but one might say his quarterback keeper at the end of the first half helped get his team a vital and controversial three points en route to a 23-17 win. 

Trailing 14-0 in the dying seconds, Washington was out of timeouts and Smith suffered back-to-back sacks. When Stephon Tuitt dragged him to the ground with 18 seconds left, it appeared Washington might not have enough time to get the field-goal unit ready for an attempt. That's when things got weird. As Washington scrambled to get its proper personnel in place, the officials halted the clock with eight seconds remaining. Referee John Hussy announced: "The clock was stopped due to administrative issues. The K-ball (kicking ball) was not near where we needed it to be brought in. As a result, the clock was stopped so we could spot the ball."

Dustin Hopkins drilled a 49-yarder to give Washington a lifeline and cut the deficit to 14-3. 

As confusion ensued, the Fox broadcast team brought in its rules expert and former NFL official Dean Blandino for an explanation.  "In that situation, when the offense is out of timeouts, you don't want to waste time bringing in the K-ball. Whatever ball they are playing with, put it down, make sure they are set and get out of the way. It obviously worked out in Washington's favor with the clock stopping."

Here's the problem: The ball they were "playing with" was taken from the field. Instead of tossing the ball to an official, Smith carried it to the sideline with him. Did he do it intentionally, knowing it could force officials to stop the clock? Smith denied it. The quarterback said he removed the ball to "speed up the process of ... getting the K-ball on."    

Could the officials have assessed Washington a delay-of-game penalty and run 10 seconds off the clock? DK Pittsburgh Sports reached out to Blandino for further explanation. The first question was how rare is it a player in that situation leaves the field with the ball?

"It's very rare," Blandino wrote in a text message. "Normally, they would put the ball down or give it to the nearest official."

Blandino noted by penalizing Washington for delay of game, the clock would have stopped anyway and -- since more than 10 seconds remained at the time of the Tuitt sack -- the visitors would have been able to kick the ball, albeit from maybe five yards further back. Blandino added: The "right thing to do is keep (the) clock running and for (the) crew to get another ball in as soon as possible."

Would it have been in time? We'll never know. But Washington got points out of the drive instead of going to the locker room deflated and down 14-0. The visitors cut it to 14-10 by scoring a touchdown on the opening drive of the second half.  -- Tom Reed

RIVERA TO PLAYERS:
'NOTHING TO DO WITH RECORDS'

9:02 p.m. Monday: Ron Rivera, Washington's passionate coach, gave quite the postgame speech to his players afterward amid giving the game ball to wide receiver Cam Sims, who had five catches for 92 yards while the Steelers paid extra attention to Terry McLaurin:

SPILLANE HURTS KNEE,
HADEN CONCUSSED

8:17 p.m. Monday: Robert Spillane injured his left knee, and Joe Haden was taken off with concussion symptoms, both in the third quarter Monday, and neither returned. There was no update from Mike Tomlin after this game as to the status of either. 

Spillane leaped to tip an Alex Smith pass, then, upon coming down, his knee collided with Vince Williams. He was visibly upset in the moment, then quickly bounced up onto his feet and limped off with assistance. Spillane was, of course, taking the place of injured Devin Bush at inside linebacker. If he's out, the starting job will go to Avery Williamson, who'd already begun seeing more duty in this game. 

Haden was knocked backward on a running play, stayed down for three minutes, then walked off with assistance. His place was taken by Justin Layne, who soon thereafter was beaten for touchdown. -- DK

BOSWELL, NELSON
STATUSES UNCERTAIN

3:32 p.m. Monday: The Steelers' inactive list includes Chris Boswell (hip) and Steven Nelson (knee). There was no update from Mike Tomlin after this game as to their status. Boswell's been dealing with his hip issue for some time, and Nelson had been set for an MRI on his knee. Replacing those two on the roster: Kicker Matthew Wright was signed, and offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins was activated off the Reserve/COVID List. -- DK