Steelers News: The Steelers receiving corps will continue to be tested without JuJu

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 15 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Buffalo Bills we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how the Steelers’ wide receiver corps will be tested, again, with JuJu Smith-Schuster missing his fourth game in a row.

Let’s get to the news:

• No JuJu, no problem? That has been the case so far, but will it continue with the talented Bills defense coming to Heinz Field?

Without JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers receivers ready to step up

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Diontae Johnson, James Washington and Deon Cain have been drafted since JuJu Smith-Schuster joined the Pittsburgh Steelers. That Smith-Schuster still remains the wide receivers corps’ youngest member doesn’t mean he’s not the most accomplished or experienced.

“He’s always in our ear giving us advice for running certain route,” Washington said of Smith-Schuster. “Things he’s played and positions. It’s all good. It helps us.”

Unfortunately, that’s the only help Smith-Schuster will provide the Steelers’ offense Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. For fourth consecutive game since he suffered a knee injury Nov. 14, Smith-Schuster will not play. After leaving practice early Thursday and missing it altogether Friday, the player who is supposed to be the centerpiece of the Steelers’ skill-position group was ruled out when the injury report was released later that day.

“We gonna take it day by day and try to get healthy,” Smith-Schuster said.

“It wasn’t a setback. It was moreso like I pushed myself too hard. I’ve got to settle myself down. I am so competitive, just to get out there and be great, and I’ve got to take it slow.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Vance McDonald is out vs. Buffalo. Can Nick Vannett step up and be the man at tight end?

With Vance McDonald out, Steelers’ Nick Vannett looks to prove himself

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Nick Vannett impressed the Pittsburgh Steelers with how quickly he adapted to a new offense after being acquired in September in a trade with Seattle.

Since then, the fourth-year tight end’s opportunities have been limited to mostly a blocking role.

That should change Sunday night, as Vannett is expected to start for the Steelers (8-5) against the Buffalo Bills (9-4) at Heinz Field. Vance McDonald has been ruled out with a concussion he suffered at Arizona.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Vannett said. “I’m looking forward to it, to prove to my teammates that they can trust me and prove to everybody in this organization that they can rely on me to get the job done.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Don’t look now, but the Steelers’ offense is leaning on the ground game to win games...

As season goes on, Steelers increasingly reliant on running game

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Over the past three games, the Pittsburgh Steelers have had 105 running plays.

That accounts for three of their top four high-carry games of the season and makes for a 16-game pace of 560 carries. That’s a figure they have not topped since 2004.

By comparison, the Steelers had just 345 rushes last season.

“I think it’s fun,” right tackle Matt Feiler said of an older-school approach on offense. “It kind of takes the pressure off of us in pass protection, as well. Run-blocking is fun, especially when you get the momentum going.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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