Tomlin: Wisniewski, Conner questionable, Banner out for Week 2. DeCastro? ‘I don’t know’
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin began his weekly news conference by definitively declaring that right tackle Zach Banner would not be able to play in Sunday’s home opener against the Denver Broncos.
Tomlin offered less clarity — albeit with more optimism — on the injury statuses of guard Stefan Wisniewski and running back James Conner.
But when it came to Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro? Asked about him about 75% of the way into his 18-minute video conference call, Tomlin sounded downright perplexed.
“You know,” Tomlin said, “I don’t know.”
Tomlin had already omitted any self-initiated update on DeCastro, who hasn’t practiced in 2½ weeks because of a knee injury suffered during a camp scrimmage at Heinz Field. The lack of information is elevating fears that the injury is more significant than perhaps was originally disseminated.
“I’m hopeful that (DeCastro) will be able to (practice on Wednesday),” Tomlin said. “We’ll see.”
Ten-year NFL veteran Wisniewski started in DeCastro’s place in his debut for his hometown team after signing as a free agent in March. But Wisniewski suffered a pectoral injury during the second half of the Steelers’ season-opening 26-16 win at the New York Giants on Monday.
Conner suffered an ankle injury during the first half. At the time of his news conference, Tomlin said the Steelers were still awaiting MRI results on Conner and Wisniewski. ESPN, though, reported Tuesday that Conner’s injury was not serious and that he avoided the dreaded “high” ankle sprain.
“The forecast (for Conner and Wisniewski) is a more favorable one (than Banner),” Tomlin said.
Benny Snell amassed 113 rushing yards in Conner’s stead. By the time Monday’s game ended, Chuks Okorafor had taken over for Banner at right tackle and rookie Kevin Dotson was at right guard in place of DeCastro and Wisniewski.
Okorafor went to the wire in a camp competition with Banner for the right tackle job, so Tomlin expressed that he felt comfortable there should the expected news become official that Banner suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season.
Tomlin’s confidence in Dotson, though, is a different story because he a rookie fourth-round pick from a Sun Belt Conference program who did not have a typical summer of organized team activities and other workouts because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“There is some angst there,” Tomlin said. “So if he is called upon this week, it’s going to take a tremendous effort by him and by us — and by us, I mean us putting him in the very best position to perform. So there is some dual responsibility there.”
J.C. Hassenauer is the only other offensive lineman on the active roster. Though his specialty is center, he has said in the past the Steelers have made him guard-capable.
The practice squad features three offensive linemen, each of whom is listed as a tackle: converted defensive lineman Jarron Jones, fellow former XFL New York Guardians player Anthony Coyle and 2019 Steelers’ seventh-round pick Derwin Gray. Gray has often practiced at guard over his time with the Steelers.
The Houston Chronicle reported that the Steelers were signing tackle Jerald Hawkins off the Houston Texans’ practice squad. Hawkins would take the 53-man roster spot of Banner when Banner is, as expected, placed on injured reserve.
A 2016 fourth-round pick of the Steelers, Hawkins was plagued by injury throughout the 3½ years he spent with the Steelers, but he did appear in five games — starting one — during the 2017 season. Hawkins, Okorafor, Banner and Matt Feiler purportedly entered the 2019 training camp in an open competition for the starting right tackle job, but Feiler was the clear frontrunner from the beginning and never relinquished that frontrunning role.
At the conclusion of last year’s camp, the Steelers traded Hawkins to the Tampa Buccaneers in an exchange of late-round draft picks. He signed with the Texans last month.
Feiler was moved to left guard this season.
Here is more of what Tomlin had to say:
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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.
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