LOST: ANOTHER LB Vince Williams goes on the reserve/COVID-19 list and won’t play Sunday,
Inside linebacker will not play in Sunday matchup against Bills
The Steelers placed inside linebacker Vince Williams on the COVID list Thursday, throwing their defense into further disarray as the Sunday night game with Buffalo approaches.
The Steelers already will be without linebacker Robert Spillane, who injured his knee against Washington. With Williams out, as well, the Steelers have only two inside linebackers available for the game against the Bills — Avery Williamson and Marcus Allen. Ulysees Gilbert is practicing with the team this week, but he remains on injured reserve. He could be called back up to the active roster before Sunday if he is ready to return from a back injury.
Williamson was acquired in a trade with the Jets and has played sparingly. He played his most snaps against Washington after Spillane exited the game. He finished with a team-leading nine tackles in 38 snaps.
“He is picking it up,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said earlier Thursday before the news on Williams was revealed. “It seems someone was really timely making that trade, you know what I’m saying? You never know. You never know how injuries are going to affect you or what’s going on with COVID.
“Those situations this year have been a little tougher for us. We have to be, as Mike [Tomlin] says, light on our feet and be able to adjust and make adjustments and stuff like that. That’s the biggest thing for us. We have to be light on our feet and try to plan for things and make sure that you have guys that can help you win. That’s what we are going to try to do.”
Allen is a converted safety who has played in sub-packages as a dime linebacker. He made the switch to inside linebacker during training camp in August.
“In the past, we let Vince handle some of the blitzing stuff we want to do and make them pick up Vince and block him, stuff like that,” Butler said. “We’re just going to have to do what we can and play together. The biggest thing is playing together, knowing what each other is doing. I think we will be OK. Avery hadn’t been with us for training camp and stuff like that, but he’s gotten a pretty good grasp of the defense. He will have an idea of what he should be doing out there.”
This is the second time Williams was placed on the COVID list this year. He was placed on the list before the Bengals game, but he was able to come off the list in time to play in that game. He won’t be eligible to come off in time for the Bills game because players have to be on the list for a minimum of five days.
Spillane (knee), cornerback Joe Haden (concussion) and receiver Chase Claypool (illness) did not practice on Thursday.