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The Pittsburgh Steelers were beaten soundly by the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football in Week 1, but to make the loss worse the team also suffered several injuries at key positions.
A few of the walking wounded from Week 1 would include:
T.J. Watt (hip)
Maurkice Pouncey (ankle)
Joe Haden (shoulder)
JuJu Smith-Schuster (toe)
Add Sean Davis (ankle) to this list and you have several starters whose availability for the Week 2 game vs. the Seattle Seahawks is up in the air.
During Mike Tomlin’s weekly Tuesday press conference he outlined the expectations for players potential availability in Week 2. Without giving specific details on the aforementioned players, Tomlin added there are several players, Pouncey and Smith-Schuster were specifically listed, who may be limited in early portions of the week.
Injuries: Pouncey, JuJu may be limited early during the week. Roosevelt Nix is being evaluated for knee injury. He may miss this game "or two."
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 10, 2019
However, Tomlin did say he was “optimistic about availability” for all those players who are dealing with those bumps and bruises associated with getting back into playing 4 quarters of football. As Tomlin said, “the week will tell the story” on who is in, and who is out, for the Week 2 contest at Heinz Field.
Watt and Haden are among guys that may be limited early in the week.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) September 10, 2019
The biggest surprise on the injury front was a player who wasn’t even listed as injured after the loss in Gillette Stadium Sunday night. Tomlin said fullback and special teams captain Roosevelt Nix has a knee injury which is being evaluated. Tomlin added Nix will be out this week, and possible miss extended period of time.
For Tomlin to be this specific regarding an injury isn’t good news for Nix, and the hope is the diagnosis doesn’t end his season, but just have him miss a few games before his return.
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Seahawks in their season-opening game this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Heinz Field.