Category: 2020 Steelers vs. Colts NFL Week 16

Steelers shuffle roster spots ahead of Sunday’s game

Steelers Wire looks at the latest roster moves by the Steelers ahead of this week’s game.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers announced a number of roster moves on Saturday ahead of their game with the Indianapolis Colts to account for injured and now healthy players.

Pittsburgh elevated kicker Matthew Wright from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. This certainly raises some doubt about the availability of Chris Boswell this week as he deals with a groin injury.

The Steelers also elevated linebacker Tegray Scales to the active roster. This means he will be the fourth outside linebacker on the depth chart this week, should Ola Adeniyi not be able to go.

Finally, the Steelers waived offensive guard Derwin Gray. Gray had played last week but with the return of Kevin Dotson, Gray becomes expendable for now.

Another injured Steelers of importance is linebacker/safety Marcus Allen. Pittsburgh doesn’t need to bring anyone up if Allen cannot go thanks to the return of Vince Williams.

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Steelers final injury report vs. Colts in Week 16

The Pittsburgh Steelers released their final injury report ahead of the Week 16 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.

There’s a mix of good and bad coming out of Pittsburgh Steelers camp about who is and isn’t likely to suit up on Sunday versus the Colts.

The bad news is that linebacker Ulysees Gilbert was placed on injured reserve for the second time this season, this time with an ankle injury. Several others are listed as questionable: Kicker Chris Boswell (groin), linebacker Marcus Allen (stinger), linebacker Ola Adeniyi (shoulder) and running back Anthony McFarland (illness). Adeniyi and Boswell did practice Friday in a limited capacity.

The great news is defensive end Stephon Tuitt, who missed two days of practice this week, was a full participant on Friday and was not on the status report. Pittsburgh also got linebacker Vince Williams back earlier this week from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. It’s unclear whether he’ll play.

Three other components on the offensive side — tight end Eric Ebron (back), running back James Conner (quad), Kevin Dotson (shoulder) and fullback Derek Watt (concussion), were also full participants and not listed on the injury report.

Here’s the full injury report from Steelers.com:

Game Status
LB Marcus Allen (Stinger) – Questionable
LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ankle) – Out, placed in IR on 12/25
LB Olasunkanmi Adeniyi (Shoulder) – Questionable
K Chris Boswell (Groin) – Questionable
RB Anthony McFarland (Illness) – Questionable

Friday, December 25
QB Ben Roethlisberger (NIR) – Full
LB Marcus Allen (Stinger) – DNP
RB James Conner (Quadriceps) – Full
FB Derek Watt (Concussion) – Full
C Maurkice Pouncey (NIR) – Full
LB Ulysees Gilbert III (Ankle) – DNP
G David DeCastro (NIR) – Full
G Kevin Dotson (Shoulder) – Full
TE Eric Ebron (Back) – Full
DE Stephon Tuitt (Back) – Full
LB Olasunkanmi Adeniyi (Shoulder) – Limited
K Chris Boswell (Groin) – Limited
RB Anthony McFarland (Illness) – DNP

Pittsburgh Steelers to defend Colts’ Philip Rivers with ‘pretty severe’ turf toe

Steelers defense will take on a less-than-100-percent Rivers on Sunday. He suffered a turf toe injury Week 11 but has not missed one game. 

Philip Rivers did what no franchise quarterback ever wants to do — jumped teams in the final years of his career.

In the same 2004 NFL draft class as Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Rivers spent 16 seasons with the Chargers before signing with the Colts in free agency this offseason.

The 38-year-old has been more than reliable for the Colts this season. He’s completed 68.67 percent of his passes for 3,735 yards, 22 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Tomorrow, the Steelers defense will take on a less-than-100-percent Rivers. He suffered a turf toe injury Week 11 but has not missed one game.

“I can’t get him to talk with me about it,” shared Colts head coach Frank Reich on Sirius XM NFL Radio about his injury. “But I talked to the trainers, and he’s still not 100 percent, but he’s getting better every week.”

“It was a significant toe injury. The degree was pretty severe. He really fought through it hard. We’re at the stage now where hopefully we continue this upward trend.”

Despite the serious injury, which often keeps a player out of action for several weeks, expect Rivers — and the Colts — to be trouble for Pittsburgh. Unlike the Steelers, the Colts have not yet clinched a playoff berth. They need a win in Pittsburgh to clinch a playoff berth with help from a Ravens or Dolphins loss.

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Steelers vs Colts: How to watch, listen and stream

Here is everything you need from Steelers Wire on how to make sure you don’t miss this week’s game.

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Here is everything you need to know so you can watch, listen to or stream this week’s Pittsburgh Steelers game. Time is running out for the Steelers to secure the AFC North and the tough, physical Indianapolis Colts are coming to town. This one is an AFC showdown you won’t want to miss.

Game information:

Indianapolis Colts (10-4) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3)

Kickoff: Sunday, December 27 at 1:00 pm ET

Venue: Heinz Field

Weather: Clear with temps in the 30s

Broadcast:

Television: CBS

Jim Nance (play-by-play)

Tony Romo (analyst)

Tracey Wolfson (sideline)

Online: You can also tune in online with NFL Game Pass and FuboTV (try it for free).

Radio: Westwood One and Steeler Nation Radio will have the game, as well as WDVE 102.5 FM & WBGG 970, AM local.

You can also follow the game with us @TheSteelersWire and of course here on Steelers Wire with our live updates during the game, along with highlights of all the key moments from this week’s game. Join us straight after the final whistle for more in-depth coverage, injury updates, and analysis of all the action.

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Steelers vs Colts: 3 keys to victory

If the Steelers want a win this week, the Steelers offensive line must step up and play better.

This week the Pittsburgh Steelers have every reason to play their best game of the season this week against the Indianapolis Colts. A win would not only snap their current three-game losing streak but also lock of the AFC North crown. But the Colts are a very good football team and this one won’t be easy.

Here are our three keys to a Steelers victory.

Steelers vs Colts injury updates: K Chris Boswell questionable

Here is the Steelers game status report for this week’s game.

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When the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Indianapolis Colts this weekend, they should be a bit closer to full strength. First, the Steelers got linebacker Vince Williams back off the Reserve/COVID-19 list. And now, according to the team’s game status report should have several more starters in the fold.

Pittsburgh did not list tight end Eric Ebron, running back James Conner, defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt or guard Kevin Dotson on the report and all should be good to go against the Colts.

The bad news is several key guys are questionable. This includes kicker Chris Boswell, linebacker Marcus Allen, linebacker Ola Adeniyi and running back Anthony McFarland.

Pittsburgh can secure the AFC North with a win over the Colts this weekend. The Steelers offense has really struggled in recent weeks but getting Ebron, Conner and Dotson on the field is sure to help with the rushing offense as well as throwing the ball.

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Steelers have one more shot to ‘unleash hell’ in December

Heading into the final game of December, the Steelers are 1-3 and hope to clinch the division with a win over the Colts.

It’s been a loooong December, and while the Pittsburgh Steelers haven’t unleashed hell yet, one more opportunity awaits.

Pittsburgh hosts an Indianapolis Colts team that is 6-2 since their Week 7 bye. The Steelers haven’t played from the comfy confines of Heinz Field since their first loss of the season. 

And while the Steelers are 1-3 this December, they have a chance to make up for their losses — a triumph over the Colts would win them the AFC North, something they haven’t done since 2017. 

It’s unfortunate that a team that started 11-0 has not yet clinched the division. At a time when the Steelers should be playing their best football, they’re playing at their worst. They peaked early in the season and now are in a downward spiral as evidenced by their three-game skid in which opponents exposed the offense for what it really is — unimaginative, rigid schemes that aren’t fooling anyone. 

Let’s just hope that offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner has some tricks up his sleeve and his unit can run them successfully. Because if the scheme remains unchanged, the Steelers will be headed to the playoffs a Wild Card team and they’ll be one and done after what was a historic start to the 2020 season. 

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Maurkice Pouncey on quieting the critics: ‘Hopefully we get a couple of wins coming up, and everyone can shut up’

Steelers WIre looks at the latest comments from Maurkice Pouncey about the team’s losing streak.

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No one is more exhausted listening to the Pittsburgh Steelers critics than the players themselves. Having lost three games in a row and with two to play, the Steelers are limping into the playoffs without any real answers about how to fix things.

One player who is definitely tired of the noise is center Maurkice Pouncey. Pouncey spoke to the media on Thursday morning and you could just tell by his tone, he doesn’t want to keep talking about how bad the team has looked over the last month.

While I appreciate what Pouncey is saying and I can’t imagine how frustrated the team is right now, winning is the only way to quiet the noise. Nothing we have seen over the last four games gives any indication this team is suddenly going to find the formula for winning. Especially when you consider the last two games on the regular-season schedule are against the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns.

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Steelers activate LB Vince Williams from Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Pittsburgh Steelers should have Vince Williams back this weekend versus the Indianapolis Colts.

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Finally some good news for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. The team announced on Wednesday that starting inside linebacker Vince Williams has been activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list. This means there’s a great chance Williams will be available this weekend when the Steelers take on the Indianapolis Colts.

Williams has missed the last two games after testing positive for COVID-19. The Steelers defense has struggled in recent weeks to slow down the run game so getting Williams back this weekend is timely. The Steelers have a chance to lock up the AFC North crown with a win over the Colts.

On the season, Williams has played in 12 games and has 63 total tackles. Williams also has three sacks on the season and two fumble recoveries.

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Steelers vs Colts: 3 early causes for concern

Steelers Wire takes a first look at the challenge ahead of them against the Colts this week.

Time is running out for the Pittsburgh Steelers to turn things around before the playoffs. This week the Steelers square off with the 10-4 Indianapolis Colts in their last home game of the regular season. A win and they win the AFC North but their performance of the last month doesn’t inspire confidence.

Here are the things we are most concerned with early in the week.