Steelers’ James Conner will not play vs. Cardinals, hopes to return before season's end

James Conner again was a limited participant at practice Thursday, he confirmed. But it wasn’t for reasons of preparing for the Pittsburgh Steelers game Sunday.

Conner is getting his work in, he said, but not at the expense of the running backs who are part of the gameplan for the 4:25 p.m. kickoff at the Arizona Cardinals.

“Being smart. Just simple as that,” the reigning AFC Pro Bowl running back said after practice Thursday. “Obviously, I am a competitor and I want to be out there. But it’s just I ain’t ready.”

Conner missing Sunday’s game will mean he will have missed five of the Steelers’ past six games. He has had just five carries and played just 13 offensive snaps since suffering a shoulder injury late during his most productive game of the season Oct. 28 against Miami.

With only three games remaining in the regular season after this week’s game, is there consideration being given to Conner going on season-ending injured reserve?

“I just am literally taking it, honestly, day by day,” Conner said. “So, whatever that may be. I’m not counted out until it’s done, for sure.”

“I don’t want to look too far ahead, because I will take some time,” Conner said moments earlier. “So we will see, hopefully, if I can go out there as soon as possible.”

In Conner’s stead, rookie Benny Snell has emerged as a legitimate NFL featured back after his return from a knee injury. Snell has 37 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown over the past two games, both wins.

Looked like @JamesConner_ hurt his shoulder again #PITvsCLE pic.twitter.com/bDwIlm8Kkc

— YoungDan (@dyoung7506) November 15, 2019

Conner’s lone action since October was during the first quarter of the Steelers’ lone loss over their past seven games, Nov. 14 at Cleveland. Conner said Thursday that he did not re-injure his shoulder or suffer a new injury to it during that game.

“I just wasn’t ready to come back,” Conner said. “I just tried to fight through it but I wasn’t able to…. I don’t want to say (it was a) mistake. But I tried to give it a go and just wasn’t ready.”

The Steelers other injured reigning Pro Bowl skill-position player, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, did not practice at all again Thursday. But rookie receiver Dionate Johnson was a full participant after being limited Wednesday because of illness.

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