Steelers Injury Report: Curtis Brown ruled out against Giants in preseason opener

The Pittsburgh Steelers are playing it safe with defensive back Curtis Brown and his minor lower ankle injury. Brown will evidently be mending his wounds while his teammates take the field for the preseason opener.

Curtis Brown won't play in Saturday's preseason game against the Giants, according to @RichieWalsh

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) August 8, 2013

With Cortez Allen recovering from minor knee surgery, Terry Hawthorne recovering from off-season knee surgery and DeMarcus Van Dyke nursing a 'significant' injury of his own, Brown would have been third on the depth chart behind starters Ike Taylor and William Gay.

The Steelers will most likely play reserves for the majority of the game anyway, but Taylor and Gay may find themselves filling in from time to time, late to provide depth. The healthy bodies remaining are Josh Victorian, Isaiah Green, Buddy Jackson, Devin Smith and Ryan Steed.

Victorian played up and down in limited action with the Steelers late in 2012, but he does have a year's experience in coordinator Dick LeBeau's defense. Green stood out during OTAs and continues to appear relevant; but before the multitude of injuries befell the secondary, Green's best hope was probably a spot on the practice squad.

Steed, Smith and Jackson have only been with the team for a few days, and will be forced to learn on the fly when the Steelers welcome the Giants to Heinz Field to kick-off the preseason at 7:30 pm ET.

More from Behind the Steel Curtain:

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• Steelers OC Todd Haley feels 2012 problems were a matter of trust
• Steelers rookie WR Markus Wheaton is making missing OTAs a non-issue
• Matt Spaeth injury: tight end carted off practice field with an 'unspecified' injury
• Deshea Townsend continuing coaching career at Mississippi State
• Steelers release two players, sign two others
• Steelers Film Room: Breaking down RB LaRod Stephens-Howling
• Victorian's 2012 baptism by fire may pay off with secondary depth in 2013
• Steelers depth chart: Ta'amu falls behind Fangupo at nose tackle
• Steelers vs. Giants: WR is position battle to watch as preseason kicks off