There is typically a time in every NFL season when a team deals with a tremendous amount of injuries. Most would agree the Pittsburgh Steelers have already been there and done that in 2015, but as they approach their Week 10 game against the Cleveland Browns they have their longest injury report of the year.
DNP names and injuries: Ben (foot) Spaeth (knee) Shazier (knee) DeAngelo (foot) Harrison (knee) Johnson (back) Gilbert (toe) Shamarko (knee
— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) November 11, 2015
DNP: Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Shazier, DeAngelo Williams, James Harrison, Will Johnson, Marcus Gilbert, Shamarko Thomas LIM: Pead, McLendon
— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) November 11, 2015
The list of injuries is long, and highlighted by Ben Roethlisberger. On Tuesday at his weekly press conference, Mike Tomlin said the door would be left ajar for the franchise quarterback to play this Sunday. Tomlin might have been blowing some proverbial smoke with such a statement, as it is doubtful Roethlisberger risks further injury the week before the team's bye week.
Other injuries worth noting would be Ryan Shazier (knee inflammation), James Harrison (knee inflammation) and DeAngelo Williams (foot inflammation). The previously mentioned trio was expected to miss Wednesday's practice, but the list of Will Johnson (back), Marcus Gilbert (toe) and Shamarko Thomas (knee) were not mentioned by the head coach to miss practice.
With Isaiah Pead (knee) and Steve McLendon both limited participants in practice, Thursday's practice will be extremely important to see who returns to the playing field, and who's odds of playing Sunday decrease with each practice missed.
Be sure to check BTSC for the most up-to-date news surrounding the black and gold.