The Steelers’ preparations for their game in Dublin took a worrying turn on Friday night after one of their players was ‘jumped and robbed’ on a night out in the Irish capital.
Pittsburgh is taking on the Vikings at Dublin’s Croke Park as part of the NFL’s international series, which will see a record seven games staged abroad this season.
But backup quarterback Skylar Thompson was left with minor injuries after being the victim of a robbery on Friday night, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said on Sunday morning.
Thompson, who was already on IR with a hamstring injury, is said to be okay following the ordeal.
Steelers spokesman Burt Lauten said in a statement: ‘We are aware of a situation involving Skylar Thompson on Friday night in Dublin.
‘We will have no further comment at this time as we are working with NFL security to gather more information regarding the incident.’
Skylar Thompson is seen arriving to the Steelers’ game on Sunday in Dublin, Ireland
Thompson played the first three seasons of his career with the Dolphins before signing with the Steelers
Thompson was seen arriving to the Steelers’ game on Sunday and did not have any noticeable injuries on his face.
Pittsburgh’s players only arrived in Ireland early on Friday morning, on a flying visit to the Irish capital before returning home to face the Cleveland Browns next Sunday.
The incident follows the Chiefs and Chargers’ season-opening matchup in Sao Paulo on September 5, which appeared to take place without any hiccups.
In 2018, four Jaguars players were arrested while in London for a game after being accused of not paying a $64,000 bar tab. The charges were dropped after the bill was paid.
The unsavory incident comes just days after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell openly spoke of his desire to have every team in the league playing an international game each year.
‘When we first came up with the idea of [an international] regular season game, I didn’t think there would be as much support,’ Goodell said on CNBC this week.
‘But now, every team wants to do it. We don’t have to talk them into it. They’re asking us.’
Rio de Janeiro was announced on Friday as the next city to hold an NFL game, with a minimum of three regular-season games to take place in the iconic Maracana Stadium, beginning in 2026.
After this weekend’s showdown between the Steelers and Vikings in Dublin, the NFL has a further five international games to contend with in the coming weeks.
The league heads to London next week for back-to-back weekends at Tottenham’s soccer stadium, with the Vikings, Browns, Broncos and Jets all involved.
On October, 19, Wembley Stadium hosts the Rams and Jaguars, before attention turns to Berlin, Germany and Madrid, Spain for the two weekends after that.
The Falcons and Colts will play in Germany, while it is the Commanders and Dolphins lifting the curtain on the first ever regular-season game to be held in Spain.
It is as yet unclear whether clearer guidelines or increased security will be put in place for the teams as they head around Europe in the wake of Thompson’s incident in Dublin on Friday night.
Thompson, a seventh-round pick by the Dolphins in 2022, spent the first three seasons of his career in Miami.
He made three starts for the franchise, and racked up 721 passing yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in 10 total appearances for the franchise.
Thompson also started Miami’s 2023 playoff defeat to Buffalo in relief of an injured Tua Tagovailoa.
He signed with the Steelers in January.
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