Gilbert absence may be felt in red zone

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers will have to adjust to the loss of suspended right tackle Marcus Gilbert for four games, but the impact will be lessened because backup Chris Hubbard already has started five games this season when Gilbert was injured.

But, one area where Gilbert’s loss will be significantly felt is in the red zone, where the Steelers touchdown efficiency is much higher with him in the lineup.

Gilbert was suspended four games without pay for violating the NFL’s performance enhancing substance policy. He will not allowed around the team or their South Side facility until the day after their Dec. 17 game against the New England Patriots.

“Sometimes you’re faced with adversity and the things you do as to how you respond to it define you,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference on the South Side. “Thankfully for us, Chris Hubbard playing is nothing new for us. He’s upheld the standard.”

The Steelers are unbeaten in the five games Gilbert started. They are 3-2 when when Gilbert was out with a recurring hamstring injury and Hubbard started.

Curiously, the Steelers have better rushing statistics and allowed fewer sacks when Hubbard has started.

They average 112.3 yards rushing and have allowed five sacks when Hubbard has been the starter. When Gilbert has been the starter, the Steelers average 90.2 yards rushing and have given up eight sacks.

Those numbers are based on Gilbert and Hubbard splitting the stats in Kansas City after Gilbert aggravated his hamstring injury in the second quarter and did not return.

But, when the Steelers get inside the 20, their offense performs better with Gilbert. They are 10 for 18 scoring touchdowns in the red zone (55.5 percent), and that includes the final drive in Indianapolis when all they needed was a field goal and a kneel-down on the final drive against Tennessee.

The Steelers are 7 for 23 scoring touchdowns in the red zone (30.4 percent) with Hubbard at right tackle.

Injury report

Tomlin said cornerback Joe Haden (fractured fibula) will not play Sunday night against the Green Bay Packers, the second game in a row he has missed. Tomlin said two players who did not play against the Titans — safety Mike Mitchell (Achilles) and tight end Vance McDonald (knee) — will be monitored in practice to see if they can play against the Packers.

Tomlin also said rookie receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has 18 catches and three touchdowns in the past four games, has a minor hamstring injury that could limit his practice time.

Sutton activated

The Steelers activated rookie cornerback Cam Sutton, their third-round draft choice, from the injured reserve list. Sutton, who injured his hamstring at the end of the preseason, had to wait eight weeks before he was eligible to return to practice. The Steelers had three weeks from that point to activate him.

“I’m undecided if he will play at this juncture,” Tomlin said.

Good signs

Tomlin said he was encouraged by what he saw in the 40-17 victory against the Tennessee Titans, even though he didn’t like the number of missed tackles and long pass plays.

“I thought it was great for us to perform in manner we did under the circumstances we did,” Tomlin said. “As game wore on the guys made play after play. It snowballed. That’s another good sign.”

The Packers are 1-4 since quarterback Aaron Rodgers was injured and were shutout by the Baltimore Ravens at home Sunday for the first time in 34 years.

The Steelers are a twotouchdown favorite to beat the Packers, but Tomlin cautioned, “We better not find comfort in that.”