Steelers OLB LaMarr Woodley has officially been ruled out of Sunday's Week 10 game at Cincinnati. No word has been released yet on who will replace him, but it will either be Jason Worilds, who got his first career start last week against Baltimore, or Lawrence Timmons, who could move back to the outside. Timmons started four games at ROLB in place of James Harrison.
James Farrior, who has missed two games at ILB, will return for Pittsburgh, which would give them the flexibility to play Timmons on the outside.
Is that what Pittsburgh wants to do?
With Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham listed as questionable for this game, and his back-up, Donald Lee, out for this game as well, pass coverage by the linebackers may not bear with it the same price as it did against Baltimore's talented duo of tight ends.
Timmons failed to deliver much pressure in his pass rush over those four games. Worilds had some pressure, and had a chance at a sack in the second quarter, but was faked into stopping his rush by Ravens QB Joe Flacco.
Woodley's absence was masked somewhat by the outstanding play of Harrison, who started for the first time in a month. Woodley leads the AFC with nine sacks, and was October's Defensive Player of the Month. The Woodley/Harrison combination - one of the game's best over the past three years - hasn't played together since Week 4.
Harrison came up with a toe injury in practice this week, and was limited on Thursday. He returned to practice today, and should play Sunday.
SS Troy Polamalu had a rib injury, and missed some time this week, but he should play as well.