JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner out vs. Bengals; Steelers' Diontae Johnson will play

Chris Adamski
Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 3:08 p.m. | Friday, Nov. 22, 2019 3:08 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson is carted back to the locker room after getting hit by Cleveland Browns strong safety Damarious Randall during the second half of last week’s game. Johnson suffered a concussion but has been cleared to play in this coming week’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals.

Two of the three Pittsburgh Steelers players who entered the week in the NFL’s concussion protocol have been cleared to play in Sunday’s game.

Most notably, Diontae Johnson emerged from a full week of practice without incident and will be in uniform for the Steelers’ game at the Cincinnati Bengals. That is a welcome development for the offense’s depleted wide receivers corps, which had been dealing with the release of veteran Donte Moncrief and the injured-reserve designation of Ryan Switzer in recent weeks and will be without No. 1 target JuJu Smith-Schuster against the Bengals.

Diontae Johnson had blood pouring out of his ear as he was being helped to the sideline after the helmet-to-helmet hit from Damarious Randall. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/W2c7VMdwnB

— Chase Williams WPXI (@chasepwilliams) November 15, 2019

Smith-Schuster suffered a concussion and knee injury on the same play during last week’s loss at the Cleveland Browns. He did not practice all week and will not play in Cincinnati. The Steelers added Deon Cain to their receivers’ corps this week.

Outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi was a third Steelers player who suffered a concussion against the Browns. Like Johnson, he practiced all week and will play against the Bengals.

As expected, starting running back James Conner will not be in uniform after aggravating a shoulder injury in Cleveland. The only other player whom the Steelers will prepare for being without against the Bengals is Artie Burns; the reserve cornerback is listed as doubtful because of a knee injury.

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.