What the Steelers Said This Week Before Facing Ravens

QB Lamar Jackson

On Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin calling him "Mr. Jackson":

"I appreciate that, coming from a coach [with] all the success he's had. But when we're on that field, it's a different ballgame; that's with any opponent, though, not just the Steelers. My mindset is totally different when I'm out there, regardless; I'm trying to win. But I appreciate it, though."

On if he has strong feelings about the Steelers:

"I hate everybody in the league – well, every team in the league – when I'm going against them. I don't have [any] heart for a team when I'm going against them – I'm trying to win – because they don't have a heart for me, when they're going against me. Probably, after the game, it's all love, but on that field, no."

RB Derrick Henry

On playing in the Ravens-Steelers rivalry:

"I pride myself in being physical. They're a physical team [and] have a physical defense – a very good defense [and] a Top 10 defense – so you have to embrace the physicality throughout your preparation, through the week and then let it go and pay off on Sunday."

ILB Roquan Smith

On if these are the kinds of games he looks forward to:

"I love physicality, and I think when you ask each and every guy in this room ... Throughout this evaluation process that the Ravens do, they bring in physical guys. Yes, I think the most physical team is going to win this game. Make no mistake about it, these guys are no fair dodging. They run the ball coming right at you. I have a lot of respect for the running backs and the way they run the ball, but hey, it is what it is. One man has to go down, and hey, I'm not going to be on that side."

WR Diontae Johnson

On being on the other side of the rivalry:

"Just being back in that stadium, where it all started, it's going to be different. I actually have never been in the away locker room [in Pittsburgh], so that's going to be different for me, but I'm ready to get back there, just to see the good people that I made relationships with, but other than that, it's a big moment for me."

RB Keaton Mitchell

On joining Baltimore's backfield:

"[Derrick Henry and Justice Hill] are already warmed up [and] going, so I'm just going to warm up by kick return and whatever touches I get. I don't want to step on their toes, but they're doing a great job with the duo right now. But once I get going, [with] us three, it's going to be a dangerous backfield."

On if he feels like he's back to his old self:

"I knew [that] once I hit my speed, I was like, 'OK, now that I have that, it's time to hit the football portion of my ability back.' Just being able to play football, not just using my speed, because I can't really use my speed all the time in football."

CB Tre'Davious White

On getting traded to the Ravens:

"It's exciting. Anytime someone trades for you, that means that they want you, and they see some potential in you, so for that, I'm grateful, and I'm thankful. I'm just ready to get on the field and play some football. I've been inactive for a while, so it's exciting to be able to get an opportunity to go out there and showcase my talents."

Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken

On if he believes there are genuine rivalries in the NFL:

"I think, when it comes to divisional rivalries, and depending on how far they go back or the meaning of them ... Sometimes [they're] one-sided rivalries, where you get beat down so much [that] it's a rivalry to you, but you've got the hell beat out of you for so long that the other team doesn't see it that way; that's not as much fun." (laughter) "But if it means a division, if it means winning a conference championship, if it means bragging rights in a lot of ways, or it goes back a little bit further, then sure, then it does mean something. I hope it does to our players; I hope it does. It means trying to win the division. That's the first way to get in the tournament [and] the first way to try to win a world championship. And we owe them one. We didn't play very good last year on the road. [We] gave that away. They did a hell of a job, but we didn't play our best."

Steelers LB Patrick Queen

On if he's frustrated with how things ended in Baltimore:

"I wasn't offered to go back. I wasn't wanted back, I didn't get an offer back. It's definitely kind of upsetting, being there for four years and the bond that you grow with your teammates and stuff. But at the end of the day like I said, the first few months, you definitely go through those feelings, and now, after playing games, you just want to win games with your new teammates, you want to bond with those guys. Everything that you do is for this organization that you're at now. Like I said, I will have feelings, obviously. Anybody in my position would this week, so I just take it one day at a time, and whatever happens happens."

On Lamar Jackson as a competitor:

"He wants to win. He'll do whatever it takes to win, and he knows what it takes. From my perspective and just going against him, just being able not to tackle him at practice and finally getting a chance to actually tackle him, that should be fun. He's just a great competitor, he's a great athlete. He could do whatever he wants on the field as we all know. For me, it's just going against the best."

On if he would catch Jackson when he was running in practice:

"Nah, I wouldn't say catch him but try to do my best to be able to get a hand on him. We all know the type of athlete he is and how fast he is and how dynamic he is, and I would do my best to try to get in position to try to make a play. That's Lamar. I just got to do the best as I can to try to get him on the ground."

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin

On where Lamar Jackson has evolved:

"I just respect what he's capable of doing. I see continual evolution in him, and I've seen that since they drafted him. There's always a component of his game that's moving forward, and I just think it speaks to not only his talent, but his approach to business, and their approach to business. He's got a unique skill set. He and they always appear to be evolving in terms of maximizing that skill set, and I just have a lot of respect for it."

On facing former Steeler Diontae Johnson:

"To be honest with you, I hadn't thought a lot about it. He's not on a lot of their video, and so, at this stage of the week (Tuesday), I don't know that I've weighed what he might mean to the matchup. They've got more significant pieces with larger roles that are occupying my attention at this part of the week."

Steelers QB Russell Wilson

On what he's anticipating in his first Ravens-Steelers matchup:

"Well, it's going to be tough. It's going to be physical; it's going to be a great game. A lot of great players on both sides of football. Obviously, a lot of history, and we've got to bring our best."

On what challenges Baltimore's defense presents:

"I think they fly around. I think, obviously, they've got some playmakers, they've got some guys who know how to get the ball and do some really good things. I think the biggest thing for us, though, is we've got to be focused on what we do well, and we're excited about that opportunity to go up against a really good football team."

Steelers Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin

On running back Derrick Henry:

"He is a unique player. He is a big man. When he gets to speed and he gets rolling, it looks like a track meet out there. When you're not playing him, he's fun to watch. When you're playing him, he's probably not so fun."

On if there is an advantage playing Jayden Daniels and then Jackson:

"No, there's no advantage. Obviously the guy we're playing, Lamar [Jackson], is a two-time MVP. ... It's, again, not a slight to Jayden Daniels, who I think is going to be a fine player. This guy is proven in the NFL, and what you see with Lamar is the fact that, as he gets a little bit older and a little more seasoned in the league, he gets better, and that's what the great players do. It's going to be a real challenge."