Steelers dealing with a growing number of injuries as they hit the home stretch

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been lucky, as it pertains to injuries, throughout the 2020 regular season. Yes, they’ve had to deal with the season-ending knee injuries of Zach Banner and Devin Bush, and last Wednesday they lost Bud Dupree for the season with his own season-ending ACL injury, but for the most part the Steelers have remained a relatively healthy team.

But I’m not sure how much longer that moniker will be able to be used as the team prepares for the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football in Week 14.

During the Steelers’ Week 13 loss to the Washington Football Team, they lost cornerback Joe Haden to a concussion, and a knee injury to Robert Spillane Mike Tomlin said will need to be evaluated.

With a short week coming up, it seems unlikely Haden, who will have to work through the NFL’s stringent concussion protocol, and Spillane will be available in Buffalo Sunday night. And they are now joining a growing list of players who are banged up in one way or another.

The Steelers were without Steven Nelson (knee) on Monday, and had kicker Chris Boswell (hip) inactive on Monday. Throw in the fact the Steelers were also missing James Conner and Maurkice Pouncey due to being on the Reserve/COVID-19 List and you have a very depleted roster.

Pittsburgh’s defense was forced to turn to Cam Sutton and Justin Layne as their starting cornerbacks, and Avery Williamson saw his highest snap total of his short tenure with the Steelers filling in for Spillane.

This is a troubling trend for a team coming off their first win of the season and having to prepare for a big-time game vs. another AFC powerhouse in the Bills. Will the Steelers be fortunate enough to some of the aforementioned players back in the lineup Sunday night? Only time will tell, but fans can expect to learn more from Mike Tomlin when he addresses the media on Tuesday at noon.

Be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Bills, and the rest of the 2020 regular season.