Anthony McFarland benched by Steelers for Bills game

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Anthony McFarland led the Pittsburgh Steelers in rushing attempts during last week’s game. This week, he was benched.

McFarland was deemed inactive for Sunday night’s Steelers game at the Buffalo Bills. The return of starting running back James Conner took an available gameday roster spot, and the Steelers elected to sit McFarland and use Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels as the backups to Conner.

McFarland, a rookie fourth-round pick, had 13 rushes and three receptions for 66 yards from scrimmage over the past four games. Conner had sat out the past two of those games, though, because of a positive coronavirus test that landed him on the reserve/ covid-19 list. The Steelers managed just 89 team rushing yards in those two games and have fallen to 29th in the NFL in rushing.

McFarland could not corral a pass on fourth-and-1 during the fourth quarter of a tie game during the fourth quarter Monday against Washington, but Ben Roethlisberger blamed himself for a poorly thrown pass.

Also healthy scratches for the Steelers are No. 3 quarterback Josh Dobbs, offensive lineman Derwin Gray, tight end Kevin Rader and defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs. Buggs has been inactive for three of the past five games and played only nine defensive snaps over the course of the other two games.

The Steelers announced Friday that veteran cornerback Joe Haden would not be available for the AFC showdown against the Bills. Haden suffered a concussion during last Monday’s defeat.

The Bills (9-3) lead the AFC East and the Steelers (11-1) are in first place in the AFC North. Both are chasing the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs (12-1) in the race for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

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