Steelers promote WR Cobi Hamilton, could be preparing to not have Sammie Coates available

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently dealing with a wide receiver shortage. With Markus Wheaton to miss his third game of the 2016 regular season, and Sammie Coates not just dealing with a finger laceration, but also a fractured digit, the team had to prepare for the situation Coates isn’t able to play Sunday.

With that said, the team has promoted wide receiver Cobi Hamilton from their practice squad, and released cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz.

This news does not mean Coates will not play, it just means the Steelers have a security blanket in case No. 14 is unable to play when the team travels to play the Miami Dolphins.

Hamilton made some impressive catches throughout the 2016 preseason, and, from all reports, has impressed when given the opportunity in practice. If Coates is unable to play, the Steelers’ wide receiver depth chart would be as follows:

Antonio Brown
Darrius Heyward-Bey
Eli Rogers
Cobi Hamilton

The Steelers will likely use Le’Veon Bell a lot as a fourth receiver in 4-wide sets, not to mention using multiple tight end sets to utilize weapons like Jesse James and Xavier Grimble.

As for Shabazz, if he doesn’t get signed by another NFL franchise, it is safe to suggest the team will try to re-sign him to the practice squad. With Justin Gilbert and Robert Golden returning to the lineup, there isn’t a strong need for another defensive back.

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