STEELERS A BIT BANGED-UP
So much for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ very brief run with good health.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, wide receiver Diontae Johnson and cornerback Joe Haden and inside linebacker Devin Bush are among a growing list of players dealing with issues as the Steelers (1-1) prepare to host Cincinnati (1-1) on Sunday. Defensive lineman Tyson Alualu is now on injured reserve after undergoing surgery Monday on his fractured right ankle.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Roethlisberger is dealing with an injury to his left pectoral, leaving his participation in practice this week in question. Tomlin wasn’t sure when Roethlisberger got hurt, though he did not miss a snap during a 26-17 loss to Las Vegas last week.
Watt, Highsmith, Bush and Haden are all dealing with groin injuries. Haden and Bush were both inactive on Sunday after testing the injuries during pregame. Watt sustained his injury in the second quarter and watched from the sideline in sweatpants as Las Vegas quarterback Derek Carr lit the Steelers up for 263 yards and two touchdowns after halftime. Highsmith was on the field during the Raiders’ final drive.
Tomlin did not rule any of them out for Cincinnati’s visit to Heinz Field. He sounded less optimistic about Johnson, who injured his knee at the end of a short gain on the game’s final snap.
“He’s looking better, but that’s not to be confused with great,” Tomlin said of Johnson, who leads the team with 14 receptions through two weeks.
Tomlin stressed all of the answers to his team’s injury problems are “in house,” indicating he doesn’t expect them to be long term while expressing confidence in his reserves
and practice squad players.
“I’m not necessarily worried about the injury in terms of our expectations or in terms of our performance,” Tomlin said. “We have a week to prepare with known issues. Ingame injuries caused more problems than known issues like you’re faced with here at the top of the week.”
Veteran linebacker Melvin Ingram played well in the second half with Watt on the sideline, racking up his first sack in two years. Jamir Jones could be thrown more heavily into the rotation if Watt and/or Highsmith are unavailable.
“(Jones) is doing the things that young guys do, which is part of the natural maturation process,” Tomlin said.
The Steelers do have depth at wide receiver if Johnson can’t go in fourth-year man James Washington, who has seen limited playing time behind Johnson, JuJu SmithSchuster and Chase Claypool.
More surgery for Bronco
Broncos Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb needs surgery to remove bone spurs from his left ankle just four months after undergoing a similar surgery on his right ankle.
Chubb said in a video posted on the team’s website Tuesday that with the Broncos (2-0) in the midst of a resurgence, he’s going to work hard to get back this season.
“When this thing is healed up I expect to see a whole new Bradley Chubb, a whole new animal, a whole new dog,” Chubb said. “I feel like 2018 was my last full year healthy and I feel like when I’m done with this it’s going to be 10 times that and really excited just to see everything that comes full circle.”
QB Taylor goes on IL
Rookie Davis Mills will start at quarterback for the Houston Texans on Thursday
night against the Carolina Panthers with Tyrod Taylor out with a hamstring injury.
Coach David Culley announced the decision Tuesday and said Taylor would be inactive. Later Tuesday the Texans placed Taylor on injured reserve, which means that he must miss at least three games.
Culley said the Texans plan to promote Jeff Driskel from the practice squad to back up Mills against the Panthers.
Notable
Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry will miss at least Cleveland’s next three games after being placed on injured reserve with a sprained knee ligament. Landry was hurt after catching a short pass in Sunday’s 31-21 win over the Texans.
• The NFL will stage an international combine for 50 athletes from 14 countries next month in London.