Pittsburgh has a punting problem. For years, decades really, the unit hasn’t been sufficient. New Special Teams Coordinator Danny Crossman’s goal is to come in and fix that while improving or maintaining the other special teams units. History says he may fix other aspects, but not punting.

Below is a chart of the average gross punting yards (how far a punt travels before the return) and NFL rank during all four of Crossman’s stints in the head role: Carolina, Detroit, Buffalo, and Miami. Included in the chart is Pittsburgh’s ranking over the Mike Tomlin era, 2007-2025.

The numbers below with analysis to follow:

Crossman’s numbers in Carolina were good. The rest were not. He had bottom-tier finishes in Detroit, Buffalo, and Miami. Perhaps Buffalo can be excused, given its cold-weather climate, naturally unfriendly to punters. Still, Detroit plays indoors (even with road games in Green Bay and Chicago, that’s just a fraction of the season), and Miami is a warm-weather climate. No matter the venue over the past 15 years, the results haven’t been there.

Pittsburgh’s low finish isn’t shocking. Like Buffalo, punting at Acrisure (and Cleveland, Baltimore, and Cincinnati) makes life tough. The city will always have a disadvantage. Still, there’s no reason to accept finishing dead last in the league over nearly 20 years. Pittsburgh’s punting has always been subpar. It’s why the team’s record holder is from the 60s and not the modern day, like nearly every other NFL team. Washington is the only other team in this situation, thanks to Sammy Baugh’s league record that stood for generations.

How much can Crossman be blamed? He’s not the one on the field. But he evaluates and coaches the position. The results reflect him, especially over such a long span of time, and not a cherry-picked, single-season window. There is a consistently disappointing trend. And it’s gotten him fired in Buffalo and Miami.

Cameron Johnston is currently Pittsburgh’s only punter. Another will surely join the team. Whoever wins the job has their work cut out for them. Crossman must turn around his history – and Pittsburgh’s.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed an infielder on the injured list ahead of their series finale against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park.

The club announced that Jared Triolo is headed to the 10-day IL with a right knee patellar tendon injury. As the corresponding move, the Pirates recalled Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis after having previously optioned him upon bringing Konnor Griffin up to the majors.

As the corresponding move, the Pirates recalled Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis after having previously optioned him upon bringing Konnor Griffin up to the majors.

Triolo’s Recent Numbers in Pittsburgh

A second-round pick out of the University of Houston in the 2019 MLB Draft, Triolo made his big league debut in 2023 and has remained a staple of Pittsburgh’s infield ever since.

The 28-year-old has never put up gaudy numbers at the plate outside of his rookie year (.785 OPS in 209 plate appearances), but his defensive prowess and versatility has provided adequate value for the team.

Triolo won the National League Gold Glove for utilitymen in 2024 after posting three Outs Above Average, per Baseball Savant, and he logged six OAA in 2025.

He had played in six games for the Pirates this season until suffering his injury. Over that stretch, Triolo slashed .217/.308/.261 with -2 OAA.

Pirates’ Current Infield Depth

Triolo started six of Pittsburgh’s first seven games this year, spending five of those contests at shortstop and one at third base.

While he hasn’t produced in any facet of the game so far in 2026, Triolo’s absence is at least notable due to the fact that the Pirates might have to dig deeper down into their depth chart for reinforcements.

Griffin’s presence, of course, does minimize that affect, as the top prospect in baseball has become Pittsburgh’s everyday shortstop.

With Triolo out of the picture for the time being, Nick Gonzales is in line to continue receiving a lion’s share of the reps at the hot corner, though Nick Yorke could push for playing time there as well.

Elsewhere around the infield, Brandon Lowe will remain the starter at second base amidst his hot start to the season, while Ryan O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz are the two primary options at first base.

Cook also has prior experience at first, second and third base, though he’s more of an outfielder these days.

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