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The Steelers were likely preparing all week for the absence of wide receiver Antonio Brown all week, and Saturday, that absence was confirmed.
Brown will miss his first game due to injury as a professional, unable to overcome a high ankle sprain suffered in Pittsburgh's 24-20 win over New York in Week 9.
Marcus Gilbert (ankle) will miss his fourth consecutive game, and safety Troy Polamalu (calf) will miss his fifth. Linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (hamstring) will miss his second.
Rashard Mendenhall is listed as doubtful for the game, but won't play, per Beaver County Times reporter Mike Bires. Same goes for Chris Carter (abdomen).
Chris Rainey (rib) will play, and according to Bires, will return kicks as he has been. Emmanuel Sanders will return punts in Brown's absence.
The particular absences in this game really don't change much, if anything, for the Steelers. They will likely center their game plan around the running game - with the only real question being who will get more carries, Isaac Redman or Jonathan Dwyer?