‘Game on,’ but Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey goes on covid-19 list and won’t play

As an NFL spokesman put it, “Game on.” But while they will play the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be without their eight-time Pro Bowl center.

Maurkice Pouncey was placed on the NFL’s reserve/covid-19 list less than three hours prior to the 3:40 p.m. scheduled kickoff time of the thrice-rescheduled Steelers-Ravens game at Heinz Field.

Going on the list does not necessarily indicate a positive coronavirus test; it could be related to contact tracing or exposure for Pouncey to someone who has tested positive. Pouncey joins running back James Conner and defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt as starters who will miss Wednesday’s game because they are on the covid list.

Reserve offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins is also on the list and will not play for the Steelers (10-0) in a game that originally was scheduled for Thanksgiving. It was bumped first to Sunday and then to Tuesday night before the Wednesday late-afternoon kickoff was set. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy on Tuesday night confirmed to the Tribune-Review that there was no change in status to the game, and then three hours prior to kickoff posted a message to his verified Twitter account that read, “Game on #BALvsPit. Let’s do this.”

J.C. Hassenauer is expected to make his first NFL start in Pouncey’s place.

Did a 2019 in professional football that went from Iron to Steel provide J.C. Hassenauer with enough mettle to make it over the long term in the NFL?https://t.co/MczSNPaktD

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) January 10, 2020

The Ravens have 15 players on their covid-19 list, including reigning NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and several other starters, and also reportedly will be without their top two running backs. Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins were taken off the list Tuesday but reportedly will not play because of a lack of practice time.

Offensive lineman Anthony Coyle and running back Wendell Smallwood were added to the Steelers’ gameday roster off the practice squad. A former West Virginia star, Smallwood is making his Steelers’ debut. He joins Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland as the running backs available to the Steelers for the game.

Designated as healthy inactives for the Steelers for the game against the Ravens were quarterback Josh Dobbs, safety Antoine Brooks, outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott and tight end Kevin Rader. Running back Jaylen Samuels (quadriceps) was ruled out late last week.

Coyle has not appeared in an NFL regular-season game since signing with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He has spent time on practice squads or offseason rosters for four teams and was a starter for the XFL’s New York Guardians this past spring.

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