One week after being widely criticized for his senseless late-game behavior in Minnesota — even by former Steelers great Joe Greene — receiver Chase Claypool apparently fell into more disfavor with the coaching staff against the Tennessee Titans.
Claypool did not have a catch against the Titans and rarely played when the Steelers were mounting a comeback in the fourth quarter. He was replaced by Ray-Ray McCloud, who ended up playing more snaps (33) than Claypool (31) in Sunday’s 19-13 victory.
Coach Mike Tomlin did not list Claypool as having an injury — not after the game or during his weekly Tuesday press conference — that might have prevented the second-year receiver from playing.
According to a team source, Claypool appeared to get into an argument with one of the assistant coaches on the sideline that could have led to him remaining on the bench in the fourth quarter.
Claypool was targeted just twice in the game and only touched the ball on two designed running plays that gained 20 yards.
In Minnesota, Claypool received a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness after a sideline catch in the first quarter, stalling a drive. But his most egregious incident came when he wasted time after a fourth-down catch in the final minute because he knelt on one knee to pose for a first-down signal.
Later in the week, Claypool posted an apology on his Instagram account in which he said, “I will learn from my shortcomings.”
Gerry Dulac: gdulac@post-gazette.com and Twitter @gerrydulac.
First Published: December 22, 2021, 8:11 p.m.
