For the third consecutive game, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be without one of their top four wide receivers. And for the second time in this young season, they’ll be without one of their top two cornerbacks.
Receiver James Washington and cornerback Cameron Sutton were designated as “out” on the Steelers’ final injury report of the week. They join reserve defensive lineman Carlos Davis and reserve offensive lineman Rashaard Coward as Steelers who will not play in Sunday’s home game against the Denver Broncos.
All other players were given an official clean bill of health Friday, including receiver Chase Claypool, whose hamstring injury had him limited in practice earlier in the week. Starting guards Trai Turner (illness) and Kevin Dotson (hip) will start Sunday despite injury concerns, as will receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (ribs), defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (neck) and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (pec/hip).
Washington suffered a groin injury during Thursday’s practice. No. 4 on the WR depth chart, Washington stepped up in role each of the past two games when Diontae Johnson and Claypool missed games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, respectively.
Sutton suffered his groin injury against Green Bay last week. With him out, James Pierre becomes an everydown outside cornerback. The second-year former undrafted free agent filled that role in the Week 2 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders because Joe Haden was out with an injury.
The trickle-down effect on the secondary likely means more significant roles for Arthur Maulet, Justin Layne and/or rookie Tre Norwood.
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