Steelers RB James Conner latest to test positive for covid-19

The Pittsburgh Steelers are dealing with more covid-19 cases as their twice-postponed game against the Baltimore Ravens approaches.

Running back James Conner tested positive Saturday, the Steelers announced, and he is the fourth player in two days to be added to the reserve/covid-19 list. The Steelers also announced assistant coaches Danny Smith (special teams) and Matt Canada (quarterbacks) will not work the game scheduled for Tuesday.

Assistant wide receivers coach Blaine Stewart is taking over Smith’s duties. Stewart is the son of late former West Virginia coach Bill Stewart.

The Steelers said the absences of Smith and Canada are because of “illness” but did not elaborate. ESPN reported a Steelers assistant coach had tested positive.

A player who tests positive and is on the reserve/covid-19 list must be out a minimum of 10 days. A player who came into close contact with an infected person must be out five days since contact was made.

Tuesday’s game is in jeopardy of not being played after the Ravens on Saturday placed six more players on the reserve/covid-19 list: Jaylon Ferguson, D.J. Fluker, Broderick Washington, Will Holden, Khalil Dorsey and Tavon Young. Baltimore has 20 players on the covid list and is running out of available offensive and defensive linemen. The Ravens already placed their top two running backs — Mark Ingram and rookie J.K. Dobbins — on the reserve/covid-19 list earlier in the week.

A cancer survivor, Conner ranks eighth in the NFL with 645 yards rushing. He would be replaced by second-year running back Benny Snell when the Steelers play the Ravens on Tuesday night at Heinz Field.

For reasons of injury (quadriceps), the Steelers on Saturday made it be known No. 4 running back Jaylen Samuels will not be available to play this week. Another running back, Trey Edmunds, was placed on injured reserve this week, leaving the Steelers with only Snell and rookie Anthony McFarland at the position on the active roster. Veteran Wendell Smallwood, though, is on the practice squad and likely would be promoted if the game is played.

The Steelers added defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt and Isaiah Buggs and offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins onto the reserve/covid-19 list Friday. Rookie guard Kevin Dotson has been on the list since Nov. 14.

The Steelers did not practice Saturday, the third day in row that they have not practiced since the game against the Ravens was postponed from its original Thanksgiving night kickoff.