The Patriots once again will be shorthanded offensively when they visit the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.
New England on Wednesday ruled out running back Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and rookie wide receivers Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder) for their Week 14 game at Acrisure Stadium.
Douglas and Boutte both sat out last week’s 6-0 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, as well. Stevenson suffered a reported high ankle sprain early in that game that is expected to sideline him for multiple weeks.
The Patriots also ruled out cornerback Shaun Wade (illness) and offensive lineman Riley Reiff (knee). Reiff, who hasn’t played since October, reverted to season-ending injured reserve.
The only fully healthy wideouts on New England’s roster are Tyquan Thornton and Jalen Reagor, who have just eight catches for 67 yards and no touchdowns between them this season.
The Steelers ruled out starting quarterback Kenny Pickett and safety James Pierre and listed four as questionable, including running back Najee Harris and leading tackler (and ex-Patriot) Elandon Roberts. Mitchell Trubisky will start at QB for Pittsburgh.
READ MORE…
Steelers look to avoid another home upset
PITTSBURGH — The NFL used to come to a near standstill whenever the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots met.
Now, not so much. Thursday night’s meeting might merit a passing glance.
If that.
The two teams that will run onto the Acrisure Stadium turf won’t have future Hall of Fame quarterbacks at the controls. They won’t be fighting for home-field advantage in the playoffs or a spot in the Super Bowl.
The Patriots (2-10) are simply looking for something — anything — to build on amid a five-game losing streak that has a team that used to pick last in each round of the draft nearly every year at the height of the Tom Brady era to somehow perhaps pick first.
The Steelers (7-5) are better off in the standings but can’t seem to get off the treadmill of mediocrity. A chance to take a step forward and create some breathing room in the race for an AFC wild-card spot slipped away last Sunday in a sloppy and dispiriting loss to rebuilding Arizona.
Several players — running back Jaylen Warren and wide receiver Diontae Johnson among them — said in the aftermath there’s a chance Pittsburgh overlooked the then-two-win Cardinals based merely on their record.
That can’t happen again if the Steelers want to be considered a serious threat to play beyond the first weekend in January.
Leave a Reply