Diontae Johnson, David DeCastro will not play Sunday for Steelers vs. Browns

For their big AFC North game Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense will be without a Pro Bowl selection and a second-team All-Pro from last season.

David DeCastro and Diontae Johnson on Friday were ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns. Neither practiced Friday because of injuries suffered during the first half of last week’s victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Right guard DeCastro suffered an abdominal injury and will miss a game for the third time this season. He sat out Weeks 1-2 because of a knee injury suffered during training camp.

Johnson suffered a back injury returning a punt against the Eagles. He was a limited practice participant Thursday, offering optimism he might be able to play against the Browns. But Johnson, a receiver who was second-team All-Pro in 2019 for punt returns, will miss a game because of injury for the first time in his two-season NFL career.

Johnson’s lack of availability for the final three quarters last week contributed to the emergence of rookie Chase Claypool, who had four touchdowns in the win. The Steelers have depth at receiver, with starters JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Washington in addition to playmaking newcomer Ray-Ray McCloud.

Barring an unlikely late activation of Stefen Wisniewski off injured reserve, rookie Kevin Dotson will step in for DeCastro for the second time this season. A fourth-round pick out of Louisiana, Dotson started a Week 2 win against the Denver Broncos after Wisniewski suffered a pectoral injury while filling in for DeCastro during the season-opening win at the New York Giants.

Wisniewski, a 10-year veteran, returned to practice Wednesday but remains on injured reserve. He must be activated within 21 days from his first appearance at practice or he is officially out for the remainder of the season. Wisniewski started at guard for two of the past three Super Bowl champions, but Dotson has exceeded expectations for a rookie drafted in the middle rounds.

Core special teams players Marcus Allen (foot) and Derek Watt (hamstring) will return to action after missing last week’s game because of injury. Also cleared to play after practicing fully Thursday and Friday are center Maurkice Pouncey (foot), edge rusher T.J. Watt (shoulder), tight end Eric Ebron (hand) and Smith-Schuster (knee).

Pouncey was forced out of the Eagles game late because of his injury.

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