The consensus greatest quarterback of all time is coming to Pittsburgh. And the Steelers will have to face him without four of their five top defensive backs.

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon, Cameron Sutton and Levi Wallace all were announced as out for Sunday’s home game against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Additionally, the reeling Steelers defense will surprisingly be without emerging rookie defensive lineman DeMarvin Leal, who was added to the league-mandated injury report Friday because of a knee ailment and promptly classified as out for Sunday’s game.

Fitzpatrick had missed only one of 54 prior games (including playoffs) since joining the Steelers in September 2019. He has a knee injury that prevented him from practicing all week.

Sutton and Witherspoon also refrained from participating in any part of practice this week. Each is dealing with a hamstring injury — Witherspoon will miss his third consecutive game, and Sutton did not play the second half of last week’s 38-3 loss at the Buffalo Bills. Wallace did not finish that game, either, and spent this week in NFL concussion protocol. Though Wallace was a limited practice participant the past two days, he was deemed unable to play against Tampa Bay.

The Steelers (1-4) have the NFL’s 26th-ranked defense in yards allowed, the 30th-ranked among 32 teams in passing yardage. Only two teams entered this week having allowed more passing touchdowns (11 in five games).

James Pierre and practice-squad call-up Josh Jackson are expected to start at outside cornerback, with Tre Norwood subbing for Fitzpatrick at free safety. Norwood started the Bills game at strong safety in place of Terrell Edmunds, who had been out because of a concussion. Edmunds, though, had a full week of practice and will play against Tampa Bay.

Another practice-squad call-up, Elijah Riley, might be in line to see some snaps as a reserve safety.

Aside from slot/nickel specialist Arthur Maulet, the only other cornerback in the building at the Steelers’ facility is a player signed to the practice squad Wednesday, Duke Dawson, a 2017 second-round pick of the New England Patriots.

“I feel comfortable from a communication standpoint,” Norwood said of having an almost-totally revamped secondary for this game. “That’s coming from what we have been putting in this week, how the confidence level, you can see how it’s grown through the week. We’ve been putting in the time on the field, spending extra time in the meeting room with having those newer pieces in the back end. So I feel good with it. We just have to make sure we come ready on Sunday.”

On offense, tight end Pat Freiermuth was ruled out, but starting center Mason Cole will play. Freiermuth suffered a concussion during the Bills game and was limited in practice all week. Cole had a walking boot on his right foot Monday and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday but was a full participant Friday.

When asked Friday, Cole said his foot was “good” and that as a five-year veteran he is equipped to deal with a lack of practice time in preparation for a game.

“I have been… in a position where I had to take mental reps (in the past),” Cole said, “so I think I have done a good job managing that and using mental reps to help prepare myself.

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