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The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3, and it feels as if it is a brand new season with a brand new team for the black-and-gold.
Ben Roethlisberger is done for the year, and Mason Rudolph will get his first career NFL start in the regular season. Sean Davis has been placed on injured reserve, and recently acquired Minkah Fitzpatrick will start in his stead alongside Terrell Edmunds this Sunday.
Speaking of Fitzpatrick, he will have to hit the ground running as Mike Tomlin stated in his weekly press conference he will start vs. the 49ers.
This per Jacob Klinger of PennLive.com:
Minkah Fitzpatrick will play safety vs. the 49ers, Mike Tomlin says.
— Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 17, 2019
Outside of Roethlisberger’s season ending, and Fitzpatrick just starting his tenure as a Steeler, the team is dealing with a ton of injuries prior to Week 3, and Mike Tomlin gave a quick synopsis of those injuries.
This per Dale Lolley of DKPittsburghSports:
Rosie Nix is out again this week. Vince Williams, Chickillo, James Conner and Joe Haden all questionable. Practice will determine that. #Steelers #dkps
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) September 17, 2019
Roosevelt Nix, who is still dealing with a knee injury, has already been ruled out of this week, but as for the other players injured, they are all unofficially listed as questionable heading into the new week. They are:
Vince Williams (hamstring)
James Conner (knee)
Anthony Chickillo (foot)
Joe Haden (shoulder)
As always, Tomlin added how what the players can do in practice will ultimately result in whether they will be available come game day or not.
In the meantime, stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they not only prepare for the 49ers in Week 3, but they go into battle with new faces in key places for the first time in 2019.