Though neither was particularly effective – the Steelers netted 20 rushing yards – Benny Snell and James Conner effectively shared the load as the featured running back. Snell had six carries and Conner five.
One player who wasn’t part of the running game was Anthony McFarland. The rookie fourth-round pick was among the Steelers’ incatives Sunday after missing Friday’s practice because of what the Steelers listed on their league-mandated injury report as “illness.” Under NFL covid-19 protocols, McFarland has not tested positive for coronavirus or else the Steelers would have placed him on the reserve/covid-19 list by now.
Snell netted 0 yards on his carries and Conner used a 12-yard fourth-quarter rush to amass 20 with his carries. Conner did add five catches for 45 yards.
The Steelers had announced Saturday that linebackers Marcus Allen (stinger) and Ola Adeniyi (shoulder) and kicker Chris Boswell (groin) would not be available against the Colts. That left Matthew Wright as the Steelers’ kicker for the second time this month. They lost during his NFL debut Dec. 7 against Washington, in part, after Tomlin elected to forgo a long field goal attempt that otherwise might have been attempted by Boswell.
Wright made all four extra-point kicks Sunday. He did not attempt a field goal.
The Steelers’ injures at linebacker mean that he only backups on Sunday at inside and outside linebacker, respectively, were Tegray Scales (inside) and Jayrone Elliott and Cassius Marsh (outside).
The Steelers’ healthy scratches were No. 3 quarterback Josh Dobbs and reserve defensive linemen Isaiah Buggs.
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