Steelers open practice week with expansive injury list
Five members of the offensive line, including four starters from the season opener, did not practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday as they began on-field preparations for the home opener Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
Tackle Zach Banner (knee) already was ruled out of playing Sunday and is expected to be placed on the injured reserve list. He is scheduled to undergo surgery Friday to repair an ACL tear. Also missing practice were guards Stefen Wisniewski (chest) and David DeCastro (knee), tackle Alejandro Villanueva (illness) and center Maurkice Pouncey (day off).
Banner, Wisniewski, Villanueva and Pouncey started the opener against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Also sitting out were wide receivers Diontae Johnson (toe) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), running back James Conner (ankle), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (Achilles) and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (day off).
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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