JuJu Smith-Schuster has drawn loads of criticism through the years for his playful on-field antics, however with the veteran extensive receiver sidelined for the Steelers‘ Thursday night time conflict with the Vikings, one other Pittsburgh pass-catcher crammed the void. Second-year goal Chase Claypool, recent off some ribbing from coach Mike Tomlin for requesting extra music at Steelers apply, received benched early in Week 14’s loss to Minnesota for thrusting a pointed finger into the facemask of Vikings nook Bashaud Breeland. Then, within the last minute of motion, with the Steelers threatening to erase a 29-point deficit, Claypool struck once more, this time lackadaisically celebrating a first-down catch with the clock working and Pittsburgh out of timeouts.

The Steelers misplaced Thursday’s Minneapolis showdown for quite a lot of causes. Their protection was nowhere to be discovered early on, and T.J. Watt left early with a groin damage. Diontae Johnson could not get alongside along with his fingers. Ben Roethlisberger barely had any time to throw on key downs earlier than halftime. However Claypool had a hand within the defeat, whilst he led the group with eight catches for 93 yards. Had the Notre Dame product merely gotten up and lined up after his crucial fourth-down catch to maneuver the chains with about 40 seconds left within the fourth quarter, quite than kneeling and pointing to indulge in his first down, the Steelers might very properly have had time to run an additional play on their last sequence, which ended with Roethlisberger’s end-zone go to Pat Freiermuth with two seconds left.

Following the sport, Claypool broke down the controversial play: “I received tackled close to the hash. Did my little first down level. Went at hand the ball to the ref. He simply received there. … The ball received knocked out of my fingers. That is what value us time. However I undoubtedly do need to be higher.”

Replay of Claypool’s celebration suggests the wideout’s affected person posing took no less than 5 seconds off the clock. Once more, is he solely accountable for Pittsburgh’s loss? No approach. However you may see on the replay simply why his showboating was pricey: even his personal teammates, together with offensive linemen, rushed as much as seize him and drag him again to the road in order to make up for misplaced time and permit Roethlisberger to spike the ball and, you understand, give attention to successful the sport.