James Conner's return to Pittsburgh helps Cardinals soar over Steelers
Another chapter was added to the incredible story of James Conner Sunday afternoon.The Erie, PA native and Pitt alum, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, showed out in a triumphant return to the banks of the three rivers in Pittsburgh. Conner rushed for 105 yards […]
Another chapter was added to the incredible story of James Conner Sunday afternoon.
The Erie, PA native and Pitt alum, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, showed out in a triumphant return to the banks of the three rivers in Pittsburgh.
Conner rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns in what was a 24-10 victory for Arizona. It was his first game against the team that drafted him, and allowed him to leave in free agency two years ago.
Two separate weather delays tried their best to dampen Conner's opportunity for revenge, but the 28-year old cancer survivor would not be denied. Arizona leaned on Conner for 25 rushes. Quarterback Kyler Murray only threw the ball 23 times.
Averaging a modest 4.2 yards per carry, Conner earned all of his 105 yards with tough, physical running that also produced 12 points on the board. His early third quarter touchdown from a yard out made it a 17-3 game, and he provided an exclamation point later in the fourth quarter from nine yards out to extend the lead to 24-3.
The Steelers, who were quarterbacked by another 2017 draftee in Mitchell Trubisky for most of the game, scored a late touchdown to make it 24-10. But Conner's flame would not be snuffed out, no matter the rain.
It had been over two months since Conner last found the end zone for the struggling Cardinals. He missed four weeks with a knee injury, all losses for Arizona, and had just 27 yards on six rushes last week in a blowout defeat to the Los Angeles Rams.
If there were ever a time for Conner to regain the juice, it was on an ugly day in the stadium he shined in for several years, in front of people and fans who know him as well as anyone. His performance helped the Cardinals get their first in Pittsburgh since 1969.
Revenge games don't always pan out well for the player. Conner had to wait a couple years before he got an opportunity to top his former team, and he did anything but waste it.
"I had this vision to come home, receive the love, and let God do the rest," Conner said after the game. "Coming from the University of Pittsburgh, you know, just trying to figure it all out, have an end goal of the NFL and not knowing how I was gonna get there, but it all started on this field, and then to have a four year run with the Steelers. I don't take none of that for granted. Just thankful to be back. Special energy in this place."
