The NFL has announced their fines for Week 6’s action, and a Pittsburgh Steelers defender has been penalized for his hit on Browns QB Dillon Gabriel. Steelers LB Patrick Queen was fined $23,186 for an illegal hit to Gabriel’s head/neck area late in the second quarter last Sunday.
The hit came with 1:08 left in the second quarter and was called for roughing the passer in the moment. However, Browns WR Jerry Jeudy was called for offensive pass interference on the same play, so both penalties offset and the play was nullified. The Browns ended up scoring a field goal on the drive and Pittsburgh would go on to win, 23-9.
Pittsburgh Steelers LB Patrick Queen is a Monster Tackler
Joe Sargent/GettyPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Patrick Queen #6 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up prior to a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
A first-round pick of the Ravens back in 2020, Queen played out his rookie contract in Baltimore before signing with Pittsburgh last season. He stuffed the stat sheet each year with the Ravens, totaling 106, 98, 117, and 133 tackles in his four years there. He had 13 sacks, five forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and 15 passes defensed. Queen was named second-team All-Pro in 2023 on the back of 133 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception, and six passes defensed.
Since coming to Pittsburgh, Queen has really stepped into his own. He’s made two total Pro Bowls and was ranked in the NFL Top 100 each of the last two seasons. Last year, he had 129 tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and seven passes defensed.
So far in 2025, Queen is on pace for another stellar season. He has 48 tackles, a sack, and three passes defensed in six games, including the Steelers’ Week 7 Thursday Night Football loss to the Bengals.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Have a Clear Path to the Division Title
Despite losing in Cincinnati on Thursday night, the Steelers are still in pole position to win the AFC North. At 4-2, they’re currently a game and a half up on the 3-4 Bengals, and have larger leads over the Browns and Ravens, both at 1-5.
The Ravens are currently on bye and should get two-time MVP QB Lamar Jackson back in Week 8. Jackson is one of the best players in the league and can win a lot of games by himself, but the Steelers have a healthy lead on both Baltimore and Cleveland already.
Pittsburgh’s biggest threat might be the aforementioned Bengals squad, especially since they lost the early-season head-to-head matchup. But Cincy is very beat up and the Steelers have been the more consistent team.
Coming up, the Steelers have to face the Packers, Colts, and Chargers before getting their rematch with Cincy. That’s a very tough stretch of the schedule, as Pittsburgh has to go through three straight division leaders over the next three weeks. Performing well in those games would go a long way towards securing the division, even this early in the season.
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