Get ready for some tough news, Steelers fans: your team is heading into a crucial Week 13 showdown against the Buffalo Bills significantly weakened. Coach Mike Tomlin has just announced that at least two key starters will be sidelined due to injuries. This could seriously impact the Steelers' chances, especially against a strong opponent like the Bills. But here's where it gets controversial... some fans are wondering if the coaching staff could have done more to prevent these injuries. Let's dive into the details.
During his Tuesday press conference, Tomlin revealed the bad news: both Broderick Jones and Derrick Harmon are officially out for Sunday's game. Regarding Broderick Jones, Tomlin stated via the team’s YouTube channel, “Broderick Jones has a neck injury. He’ll be classified as out this week. I’ll have more information for you the next time we get together but certainly he’ll be classified as out." Jones suffered what initially appeared to be a stinger late in the second half of their game against the Chicago Bears. The fact that he's already been ruled out so early in the week suggests the injury is more serious than initially thought. It's more than just a little neck pain, folks! Calvin Anderson seems to be the frontrunner to start at left tackle, having taken over for Jones last weekend and recording his first offensive snaps of the season. However, Tomlin also mentioned that Andrus Peat is in the mix.
And it's not just the offensive line that's hurting. “Same thing goes for Derrick Harmon. He sustained a knee injury in-play. But he’ll be characterized as out this week,” Tomlin added. Harmon's absence is a major blow, particularly against the Buffalo Bills' powerful rushing attack. This means players like Yahya Black, Esezi Otomewo, and Logan Lee could see significantly increased playing time. This is their chance to step up and prove their worth, but can they fill Harmon's shoes?
The timing of these injuries is particularly concerning, as it puts Jones' and Harmon's availability for the Week 14 game against the Baltimore Ravens very much in doubt. That's a huge game, and not having those guys would be a massive disadvantage. Tomlin clarified that Harmon's current knee injury is unrelated to the MCL sprain he suffered in the preseason finale, though he couldn't confirm if it was the same knee. Let's hope it's not a recurring issue!
Now, for some potentially brighter news: Tomlin painted a more optimistic picture regarding quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "Optimistic about a couple of returns,” he said. “Aaron worked his tail off to get to us last week, but as I mentioned over the course of the weekend, it was the prudent and appropriate decision. We’ll start this week with great optimism, though we’ll certainly limit him at the early portions of the week. But we’re comfortable with the general trajectory.” This suggests Rodgers has a real shot at returning this week, which would be a massive boost for the Steelers' offense.
Tomlin indicated that similar optimism applies to EDGE Alex Highsmith. He also held out hope for CB Joey Porter Jr. (hip), WR DK Metcalf (ankle), and WR Ben Skowronek (shoulder), noting that all three will be limited in practice early this week. These are all key players, and their availability will be crucial for the Steelers' success.
Rodgers' situation has been a major storyline. After missing Week 12 due to a fractured wrist, Tomlin sounded hopeful that Rodgers would return against the Bills. The decision to sit Rodgers was made relatively late, informing him on Saturday and publicly announcing it just two hours before kickoff against the Chicago Bears. Mason Rudolph stepped in for Rodgers, throwing for 171 yards, one touchdown, one interception, and losing a fumble. The offense managed 21 points with Rudolph at the helm (seven others came on a defensive score). If Rodgers is back, Rudolph will revert to his backup role, with Will Howard as the emergency third-string quarterback.
Highsmith has been sidelined for the past two weeks with a pectoral injury. He returned to practice in a limited capacity late last week but was ultimately ruled out. Nick Herbig has been filling in for him. Highsmith has battled injuries throughout the season, missing a total of four games.
Porter, Jones, and Metcalf all sustained injuries during the game against the Bears. Porter suffered a hip flexor, Jones a stinger, and Metcalf an ankle injury that appeared to be a sprain. Porter and Jones were unable to finish the game, while Metcalf played through the pain. Darius Slay replaced Porter, and Anderson took over for Jones. Skowronek contributed with one catch for 21 yards and was a valuable blocker in the running game.
The Steelers will release their first official injury report on Wednesday, with the final report coming out on Friday. The Steelers and Bills are set to kick off on Sunday at 4:25 PM/EST.
So, what do you think, Steelers Nation? Can the team overcome these injuries and pull off a win against the Bills? Are you confident in Calvin Anderson and the other backups to step up? And, perhaps more controversially – did Tomlin make the right call holding Rodgers out until the last minute? Sound off in the comments below!
