The Pittsburgh Steelers received some unfavorable news regarding their injury report prior to their pivotal Week 11 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. Pittsburgh is still sitting pretty as the sixth seed in the AFC playoffs after their disappointing Week 10 draw with the Detroit Lions. This game is crucial for the Steelers because the Chargers currently hold the seventh seed. The Steelers will be without a number of important players, and their injury report indicates that they will have a difficult time winning in Week 11.
Spells in the Pittsburgh Steelers Injury Report Sunday Night Disaster: Important Players Disqualified
One of the best players in the NFL overall, T.J. Watt, will not be playing for the Steelers. He suffered a hip/knee injury against the Lions that appeared to be a potential season-ending injury, so he will miss the game. Isaiahh Loudermilk, a rookie defensive end, is out due to a groin injury. This year, Pittsburgh’s defensive line has been completely dismantled. Tyson Alualu is out for the season, Carlos Davis, his backup, has missed the most of the season due to injury, and Stephon Tuitt hasn’t played. Include Loudermilk on the roster. On Sunday Night Football, Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith will need to carry the defensive line on their backs. It is a blow to the secondary that veteran cornerback Joe Haden will also miss the game.
The Steelers injury report wasn’t too bad when it came to their offensive side of the ball. Kevin Dotson, the left guard, is the only offensive player who has been ruled out of the contest. Dotson, one of the Steelers’ more effective linemen this season, sustained an ankle injury against the Lions and was unable to play again. Henceforth, he will skip Week 11. The Chargers have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, so having Dotson would have been nice for the Steelers against them. They are able to be exploited, and Dotson’s presence would have been beneficial.
COVID Insecurity
In addition to the injuries listed by the Steelers, they also have to deal with COVID-19. In particular, Ben Roethlisberger’s future is uncertain. He can still play if he tests negative for two days in a row. If he plays, it won’t be after a week of practice. Even though Roethlisberger is a shell of his former self, he still gives the Steelers the best chance to win football games, as Mason Rudolph demonstrated against the Lions. Even with all these additional injuries, if Roethlisberger plays quarterback, the Steelers still seem like they have a chance. But don’t bother if Rudolph is still there.
Another player with COVID concerns is Minkah Fitzpatrick, although his situation is clear-cut. As a result of the NFL’s COVID protocols, he will miss the game. Fitzpatrick’s play has drawn criticism this season, some of it justified and some not. Fitzpatrick has been a vital playmaker on the back end of the Steelers defense even though the big plays haven’t been as prevalent as they were in previous years. Fitzpatrick is the only person in their secondary room with a similar skill set. To replace his contributions to the team, the entire team will need to work very hard. On Sunday night, the Steelers defense is probably going to struggle without Fitzpatrick, Watt, and Haden.
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