Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
This week is a perfect time for the Steelers defense to have a statement game.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, they will be doing so with some key injuries. Starting outside linebacker Alex Highsmith is out as he continues to deal with a groin injury and the other starting outside linebacker T.J. Watt is questionable with the same injury.
Here’s what we expect to see with the Bengals have the football.
The Steelers will be down at least two more starters on Sunday.
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On Friday, the Pittsburgh Steelers put out their official game status report for this week’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals and the news isn’t great.
The Steelers have wide receiver Diontae Johnson, linebacker Alex Highsmith and defensive end Carlos Davis all listed as OUT for this week’s game. Johnson and Davis are both dealing with knee injuries and Highsmith is part of a group of players on the mend from groin injuries.
Pittsburgh also listed outside linebacker T.J. Watt as questionable with a groin injury as well. If Watt cannot go in addition to Highsmith, It would be Melvin Ingram and Jamir Jones handling the pass-rushing duties.
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Which Steelers must step up this week?
This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers square off with the Cincinnati Bengals in their first division game of the season. This isn’t a must-win game by any means but it would be much better to hit the road for a huge game against the Green Bay Packers sitting at 2-1 instead of 1-2. Here are the nine players most important to the Steelers this week.
Pittsburgh’s struggles make the Steelers slim home favorites over the Bengals.
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This is what happens when you have half your defense banged up, your starting quarterback ailing and you lose a game at home you should have won. The Tipico Sportsbook currently has the Pittsburgh Steelers a lowly -3.5 against the Cincinnati Bengals at home this week.
All four teams in the AFC North currently sit at 1-1 and this game kicks off the division schedule. Pittsburgh cannot afford to drop their first division matchup if they want to get back to the playoffs.
Tipico Sportsbook also has the over/under for Sunday’s game at 43.5. Given how anemic the Steelers offense has been, this move makes a lot of sense. Honestly, I’m not sure where points are going to come for either team, so I would definitely take the under.
I want to pass the question off to you, Steeler Nation. Are you taking the Steelers and giving 3.5 points this week? Or is this one going to be closer than a field goal at Heinz Field? Let us know in the comments.
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Here is what each of the Steelers injuries could mean this week.
When Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin addressed the media, he offered a grim injury update including new names we weren’t even aware of after the Steelers Sunday loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. Here is the biggest potential problem with all of the Steelers current crop of injuries.
Steelers looking to add a pass rusher to the mix.
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The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently in the process of trying to fill their roster back up after losing nose tackle Tyson Alualu last week to a fractured ankle. The team promoted Henry Mondeaux to the active roster to fill his spot and now according to NFL reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala, will be signing former first-round pick Taco Charlton to replace Mondeaux.
Charlton was selected No. 28 overall in the 2017 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. Just two picks later, the Steelers selected linebacker T.J. Watt and the rest, as they say, is history. Charlton has been a bust for much of his career but for the Steelers, beggars can’t be choosers.
Pass rusher Taco Charlton is currently in Pittsburgh, undergoing a physical. If all goes well, a person involved in the process tells me the #Steelers will sign him to their practice squad.
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) September 21, 2021
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This is a statement game for the Steelers offense against the Bengals.
Last week’s game went from a sure thing to a nightmare for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Las Vegas Raiders came out and frankly pushed the Steelers around at Heinz Field and raised plenty of questions about this team after only two games.
This week the Steelers welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to Pittsburgh and with all four AFC North teams at 1-1, this first division game is huge for the Steelers. After watching the Steelers struggle against the Raiders, here is what we are worried about this week.
