Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
These Steelers need big games this week against Seattle.
Last week the Pittsburgh Steelers gave fans some hope the season might not be lost. The win over the Denver Broncos gives the team new life but a win this week over the Seattle Seahawks would pull the team to .500 headed into the bye week. Here are the five Steelers who need to step up this week.
Here’s the first practice participation/injury report as the Steelers prepare to take on the visiting Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football.
It’s Wednesday and that means the Pittsburgh Steelers start preparation for their upcoming opponent, the Seattle Seahawks. Wednesday also means that Ben Roethlisberger (pec/hip) did not participate in practice.
In addition to Roethlisberger, linebacker Melvin Ingram and guard Trai Turner had a veteran’s day off.
JuJu Smith-Schuster is also listed on the injury report since he has yet to be placed on injured reserve. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Tuesday press conference that IR is imminent.
The good news is that linebacker Devin Bush (groin) was a full go at practice. Bush exited the Broncos game with what was initially deemed a leg injury and did not return.
Wide receivers Chase Claypool (hamstring) and James Washington (groin) were both limited. They’ll be ones to watch as the week progresses with Smith-Schuster out for the season.
Here’s the full injury report, courtesy of Steelers.com:
QB Ben Roethlisberger (Pectoral/Hip) – DNP
LB Melvin Ingram III (Not Injury Related) – DNP
WR Juju Smith-Schuster (Shoulder) – DNP
OL Trai Turner (Not Injury Related) – DNP
WR Chase Claypool (Hamstring) – Limited
WR James Washington (Groin) – Limited
DT Carlos Davis (Knee) – Limited
DT Cameron Heyward (Neck) – Limited
CB Cam Sutton (Groin) – Full
LB Devin Bush (Groin) – Full
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Here are the four players the Pittsburgh Steelers protected for their Week 6 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.
The NFL carried over some successful rules from the 2020 season, including practice squad protections. Teams can protect up to four of the most valued players on their practice squad each week, preventing them from being signed by other teams.
Teams that play on Sundays can designate protected players each Tuesday at 4 p.m.
For the fourth straight week, the Steelers protected defensemen Karl Joseph and Taco Charlton. Newly-signed wide receiver Anthony Miller was also protected, along with fellow pass-catcher Steven Sims. These four are not eligible to sign with another team until after Sunday’s game.
This week, Pittsburgh plays host to the 2-3 Seattle Seahawks on Sunday Night Football.
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The Steelers must do a better job protecting Ben Roethlisberger this week.
Last week the Pittsburgh Steelers snapped their three-game losing streak with an emotional, last-minute win over the Denver Broncos. This week the Steelers stay home in their final game before the bye week. The Seattle Seahawks are coming to town minus their franchise quarterback Russell Wilson.
Here are our early worries for this week.
Pittsburgh won’t face Russell Wilson when they play the Seahawks in two weeks.
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Not to look ahead but according to multiple sources, including ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, the finger injury suffered by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is going to sideline him for several weeks.
This is good news for the Steelers because they follow up this week’s game against the Denver Broncos with a showdown against the Seattle Seahawks. The Steelers currently sit at 1-3 and can use any advantage they can get in hopes of getting back to .500 before heading into the bye in Week Seven. Wilson is one of the premier quarterbacks in the NFL and a guy who elevates his entire team. Geno Smith will start in his place.
This week the Steelers are taking on the Broncos and their starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is expected to play despite suffering a concussion the week before.
Sources: Seahawks are bracing for Russell Wilson to miss at least a month and possibly 6-8 weeks with his ruptured middle-finger tendon that likely requires surgery. Seattle thinking about Wilson’s long-term health. Barring an unexpectedly swift recovery, it’s Geno Smith’s show.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 8, 2021
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