Ulysees Gilbert out, Mike Hilton questionable for Steelers vs. Ravens
The Pittsburgh Steelers are running out of inside linebackers. Two weeks after every-down starter Devin Bush was lost for the season because of a torn ACL, Ulysees Gilbert will not be available to play in Sunday’s AFC North showdown against the Baltimore Ravens.
Gilbert did not practice Thursday or Friday because of a back injury that either occurred Wednesday or that was not previously known. A second-year pro, Gilbert played 14 defensive snaps during last week’s victory against the Tennessee Titans, often supplanting Robert Spillane in passing downs as the Steelers went for a team approach to replace Bush.
Aside from veteran starter Vince Williams, the only other player listed as an inside linebacker on the active roster is Marcus Allen, and he was a safety in college and over his first two-plus years in the pros before the Steelers switched him to the linebackers’ room midway through training camp this August.
The only other in-house option for the Steelers at inside linebacker is Ray Wilborn, an undrafted rookie from Ball State who was signed to the practice squad last week. Another possibility is increased usage of safeties, though that is another position the Steelers are thin at, particularly if Cameron Sutton is utilized as the nickel cornerback.
Sutton seems likely to have those duties against the Ravens because the No. 1 at that spot, Mike Hilton, has made it through only two partial practices over the past two weeks since suffering a shoulder injury during an Oct. 18 win against the Cleveland Browns. Hilton was limited during Friday’s session and is listed as questionable on the injury report.
Also questionable is fullback and special-teams ace Derek Watt, who has missed 2½ of the past four games because of a hamstring injury.
Special teams captain Jordan Dangerfield — who, as a depth safety, might have been pressed into defensive duty Sunday — also will not play against Baltimore (quadriceps injury). Neither will former Ravens defensive lineman Chris Wormley (knee).
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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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