Steelers are playing with a decided lack of ego. It's helped pave the way for their 4-1 start

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers paid outside linebacker Alex Highsmith in 2023 to be one of the best players at his position in the league.

They did the same on the eve of the following season when they signed tight end Pat Freiermuth t o a lucrative contract extension.

Yet here the two established veterans are well into 2025, sharing playing time with younger, lower-profile teammates either because of injury (Highsmith) or circumstance (Freiermuth) and the emergence of the guys below them on the depth chart (both).

Nick Herbig stepped in while Highsmith dealt with an ankle injury and showed signs of blossoming into a game-wrecking star like his mentor, T.J. Watt. Freiermuth led the Steelers in receptions in 2024 but now finds himself in a crowded tight ends room that includes Jonnu Smith and mountainous Darnell Washington, who at 6-foot-8 and well above his listed weight of 265 pounds, is a matchup nightmare.

Standing in the corner of a business-like Steelers locker room following a 23-9 victory over Cleveland on Sunday that pushed Pittsburgh's record to 4-1, Freiermuth just shrugged when asked about his lack of production relative to his salary.

The game plan evolves weekly. Lately, that's meant more snaps for Washington, who serves as a sixth offensive lineman when he's not out running routes. Sometime down the road, Freiermuth knows he'll get an opportunity to reprise his role as the reliably sure-handed zone buster.

So rather than pout about wanting the ball, Freiermuth smiled while talking about Washington hauling in three passes for a career-high 62 yards, including an entertaining 36-yard catch and rumble on Pittsburgh's first drive.

“He balled out and we won,” Freiermuth said. “And that’s the name of the game. So anytime we can put together offensive performances like that and win the game, there’s nothing to be complaining about.”

It's much the same for Highsmith, who played 47 snaps (to 50 for Herbig and 49 for Watt) in his return from an ankle injury that forced him to miss 2 1/2 games.

Their selfless approach is reflective of a team that has quietly and responsibly navigated the first third(ish) of the season without an ounce of drama, somewhat uncommon for a club that has seen its share of diva-ish behavior through the years (see Pickens, George and Brown, Antonio and Harrison, James, among others).

While Highsmith and Freiermuth have taken a step back, safety Jalen Ramsey nearly doubled his career sack total by dropping Cleveland's Dillon Gabriel twice despite being severely limited in practice with a hamstring injury. It didn't stop Ramsey from being the physically dominant force the Steelers envisioned when they traded for him in June.

What stands out to Ramsey's teammates, however, isn't what he did when the lights were turned on, but what he did behind the scenes to make it out there in the first place.

“I think some guys are scared to go out there and play (when they're hurt), but for Jalen to go out there with everything he’s accomplished in this league, I just can’t say enough about the level of respect I have for him,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said, later adding, “If there was any question about the type of person that he is — take away the incredible player — but the person and teammate, I think he just showed all of us the kind of guy that he is by going out there and playing today.”

Finding the right practice squad guys to turn to during a given week. Wide receiver Ke'Shawn Williams took advantage of the active roster spot that opened up because of Calvin Austin III's injury by providing some explosion in the kick return game. Williams had 80 yards combined on returns against Cleveland, a number that would have been higher if a 47-yard punt return in the second quarter was wiped out by a questionable blindside block penalty against Jabrill Peppers.

Not much, though the Steelers will need to tighten up the details after being flagged 10 times for 59 yards, six of which produced first downs for the Browns. Watt, who tries to get as close to the neutral zone as possible at the snap, was twice penalized for being offside, one of which wiped out a fumble recovery by Peppers.

Tight end Connor Heyward has spent most of his four seasons trying to prove that he's more than longtime defensive captain Cam Heyward's little brother.

While he's done enough to win over the coaching staff, he knows the doubters remain. Yet all he does when given an opportunity is find a way to produce, whether it's converting the first “tush push” of his career as he did against Minnesota last month or making a diving 12-yard touchdown reception in which he broke off a route and shifted back to the left after a nod from Rodgers.

The turf at Acrisure Stadium typically becomes a chewed-up mess late in the season, leading the section between the hashmarks to be resodded as the early stages of winter start to creep in. This year, its troubles seem to have arrived ahead of schedule.

Rodgers criticized the field's shoddy state after special teams ace Miles Killebrew left with a knee injury and kicker Chris Boswell slipped on a late field-goal attempt well within his range, calling it “borderline unplayable.”

Austin's achy right shoulder could force him to miss a second straight game. Killebrew is out with a knee injury.

9-0: Pittsburgh's record following a bye week since 2017, the second-longest active post-bye winning streak in the league.

Try to avoid a letdown game when they travel to Cincinnati to face the reeling Bengals (2-4) on Thursday night.

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Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin smiles before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) passes under pressure from Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) in the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Connor Heyward (83) celebrates his touchdown with teammates in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington (80) carries as Cleveland Browns cornerback Tyson Campbell pursues in the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, right, talks with cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — FlyDubai, the lower-cost sister airline to long-haul carrier Emirates, announced an order Tuesday for 150 Airbus A321 aircraft at the Dubai Air Show — a major purchase that will see the carrier for the first time expand its fleet beyond Boeing.

Airbus and FlyDubai offered no value for the deal, but it will be well into the billions of dollars. It also represents a major purchase for the airline as Dubai prepares across both carriers to expand as it builds a new five-runway airport in this desert sheikhdom in the United Arab Emirates.

The A321 is a mid-range, two-engine, single-aisle aircraft, matching the style of the Boeing 737s that FlyDubai has relied on since launching flights back in 2009. The airline currently has a fleet of 95 aircraft.

Airbus and FlyDubai declined to take questions from journalists at the announcement.

“We’re very impressed with FlyDubai as an efficiency minded carrier that’s also offering a premium product,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus' CEO of commercial aircraft.

Earlier Tuesday, Etihad put in an order for 16 Airbus aircraft, part of its efforts to expand as its economic fortunes improve.

Etihad's order includes six A330-900s, seven A350-1000s and three A350F freighters, the two firms said at a news conference. They did not offer a cost for the deal. Airlines often negotiate lower prices in major orders.

Etihad made a record $476 million profit in 2024, part of a financial rebound for the Abu Dhabi-based airline. While still a slender profit compared to rival Emirates’ record profits of $5.2 billion in the last fiscal year, it continues a major turnaround for Etihad.

Abu Dhabi’s rulers launched Etihad in 2003, rivaling the established Dubai government-owned carrier Emirates, which boasts a larger fleet and a far-flung network.

Etihad struggled with its business plan and underwent cost-cutting measures even before the coronavirus pandemic. Since 2016, Etihad has lost some $6 billion as it has aggressively bought up stakes in airlines from Europe to Asia to compete against Emirates and Qatar Airways.

On Monday, Emirates ordered 65 of Boeing’s upcoming 777-9 aircraft worth at $38 billion at list prices.

Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, again acknowledged to journalists on Tuesday the delays that have plagued Boeing in getting the 777-9 to customers. However, he said he believed Emirates’ large purchase could see even President Donald Trump’s White House take note and push the manufacturer to finish the plane.

“I’m sure the White House will be leaning on Boeing to make sure it all works and they can get the things out of the doors quickly as they can, because it does mean jobs for everyone,” Clark said. “Particularly the 9X is going to be Seattle constructed, so all that sort of workforce in the northwest is almost secured now for decades.”

Clark also acknowledged Emirates and FlyDubai would be able to rapidly expand its routes with new aircraft once the sheikhdom drastically expands Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, where the air show takes place.

Dubai plans a $35 billion project to expand to five parallel runways and 400 aircraft gates, to be completed within the next decade.

“We’ll be able to reach any point on the planet,” Clark said.

Emirati men watch an Airbus A350 at the Dubai Air Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)