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Artie Burns breaks up a pass intended for Terrence West.
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Steelers notebook: James Harrison inches closer to team sack record

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Steelers notebook: James Harrison inches closer to team sack record

BALTIMORE — Outside linebacker James Harrison is one sack away from becoming the leading sacker in Steelers history. Harrison recorded his first two sacks of the season in the 21-14 loss to the Ravens Sunday. He has 76½ in a Steelers uniform and 78½ in his career.

Jason Gildon holds the team record with 77. They are the only two players in team history with more than 70 sacks. LaMarr Woodley is third with 60.

Harrison has the most multi-sack games in team history with 19, two more than Gildon (17) and three more than Woodley (16).

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Ryan Shazier and Anthony Chickillo combined on another sack late in the fourth quarter, giving the Steelers three for the day. They entered the game with eight sacks in the first seven games.

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“I thought the constant pressure was good,” defensive end Cam Heyward said. “We just have to continue to grow.”

Bad blood

Steelers safety Mike Mitchell and Ravens receiver Steve Smith are old Carolina Panthers teammates. But they don’t care for each other.

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It’s a long history that dates back many years, and the bad blood nearly spilled over late in the game. As the game’s final seconds were ticking off the clock, the two almost came to blows. Mitchell approached the Baltimore sideline and began jawing with Smith. Ravens coach John Harbaugh and some Steelers players had to separate them.

Smith couldn’t even bring himself to utter Mitchell’s name after the game.

“He is not much,” Smith said. “He was a teammate of mine, but at the end of the day, I am a Baltimore Raven and I have done things in this league. He ain’t on my level. He never will be. He is not even on the same level as my kids.”

Two starters injured

Kicker Chris Boswell attempts to kick the ball in the fourth quarter Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
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The Steelers did not have the services of center Maurkice Pouncey and receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who left the game with injuries. Pouncey dislocated his finger on the second play of the game. He later reentered the game but injured it again and did not finish the game. Reserve B.J. Finney played the remainder of the game at center.

Later in the first half, Heyward-Bey was injured after running a deep route. He had to be helped off the field by trainers and had his right foot in a walking boot in the locker room after the game. Coach Mike Tomlin said it is a mid-foot injury.

Reserve safety Jordan Dangerfield also left the game with a groin injury and did not return.

Gay’s streak intact

Cornerback William Gay, who was questionable with a foot injury, played in his 152nd consecutive game, the longest active streak for a cornerback. But Gay, who started every game last season and 39 of 47 since returning to the Steelers in 2012, did not start in the base defense.

Rookie first-round pick Artie Burns made his first NFL start and recorded his first career interception in the first quarter. It was the first time since Anthony Smith in 2006 that a rookie recorded an interception for the Steelers.

Wheaton inactive

Receiver Markus Wheaton, who was the No. 2 receiver opposite Antonio Brown when training camp began, was a healthy scratch against the Ravens. The free agent-to-be at the end of the season has dressed for just three of the first eight games and has four receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown.

A shoulder injury forced Wheaton miss the other four games, but he was a full participant in practice all week. The Steelers used him on the scout team in practice and Todd Haley said Thursday there was a healthy competition for playing time among all of the receivers.

The Steelers also deactivated quarterback Zach Mettenberger, cornerback Justin Gilbert, fullback Roosevelt Nix, linebacker L.J. Fort, offensive tackle Brian Mihalik and defensive end L.T. Walton.

The Ravens deactivated cornerback Shareece Wright, linebackers Kamalei Correa and Elvis Dumervil, offensive linemen Vladimir Ducasse and Ryan Jensen, defensive tackle Willie Henry and tight end Corckett Gilmore.

Quick hits

Chris Moore’s blocked punt return for a touchdown was the first one against the Steelers since Frank Minniefield of the Cleveland Browns did it in 1988. … Eli Rogers registered his first 100-yard receiving game of his career. He finished with six receptions for 103 yards. … Brown caught his 44th touchdown pass. His next one will tie Heath Miller for fourth-most in team history.

Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.

First Published: November 7, 2016, 5:00 a.m.

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Artie Burns breaks up a pass intended for Terrence West.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
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