DeAngelo Williams Undergoes Knee Surgery
Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams underwent knee surgery today, according to Mark Kaboly of DKPittsburghSports.com. Williams, Pittsburgh’s backup to Le’Veon Bell, could miss anywhere from two weeks to a month while recovering, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com and Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter links).
[RELATED: Bud Dupree To Return From IR]
Bell, clearly, will continue to carry the majority of the load for the Steelers, but new No. 2 back Fitzgerald Toussaint figures to assume many of Williams’ duties as the club’s reserve runner. And if Pittsburgh wants to promote a player from its practice squad, the team will have two interesting options. One is Daryl Richardson, the former Rams RB who spent the early portion of the season on the Steelers’ active roster. The other is Karlos Williams, the second-year back who recently signed on with Pittsburgh after a tumultuous offseason with the Bills.
Williams, 33, was highly effective during his two-games stint as the Steelers’ starter earlier this year, rushing for 237 yards and scoring twice while adding 10 receptions (and another touchdown) through the air. His contract with Pittsburgh is up after this year. If he misses a full month, Williams will be sidelined for the Steelers’ contests against the Cowboys, Colts, Browns, and Giants.
Steelers Designate Bud Dupree To Return
It appeared Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree‘s season was over before it began when the team placed him on injured reserve Sept. 4. Fortunately, Dupree’s recovery from core muscle tear surgery went so well that the Steelers designated him to return from IR on Wednesday, per Ralph N. Pauk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The club now has a 21-day window to activate Dupree, who is aiming to make his 2016 debut Nov. 20 in Cleveland.
In Dupree, Pittsburgh will welcome back its 2015 first-round pick, a player who amassed 26 tackles and four sacks in 16 games (five starts) as a rookie. The former Kentucky standout’s presence should aid a defense that ranks a below-average 19th in both DVOA and yardage allowed. Pittsburgh has also struggled getting to the quarterback, having amassed an NFL-worst 11 sacks to go with 48 hurries (18th), which has contributed to its underwhelming 4-4 record. During their three-game losing streak, the Steelers have taken down opposing passers a mere three times. Each of those sacks came in their 21-14 loss to AFC North rival Baltimore last Sunday.
Given that teams can only bring one player off IR, Dupree’s designation means the 2016 season has officially ended for two other Pittsburgh notables – offensive tackle Ryan Harris and cornerback Senquez Golson – as Paulk notes. Harris and Golson landed on IR prior to Week 5.
Thumb Surgery For Maurkice Pouncey
- Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey underwent surgery on his dislocated right thumb Tuesday, though it’s possible he’ll play Sunday against the Cowboys, per head coach Mike Tomlin (via Mark E. Ortega of NFL.com). Pouncey injured the thumb, which is on his snapping hand, in the Steelers’ 21-14 loss to the Ravens last Sunday and left the game in the second half.
Ben Roethlisberger A Game-Time Decision
- Fantasy owners of Ben Roethlisberger or the Steelers‘ Big Ben-dependent skill-position contingent will need to stay on top of his status going into Week 9, with Adam Schefter reporting (via Twitter) the Steelers haven’t decided if Roethlisberger or Landry Jones will get the call against the Ravens. The 34-year-old passer is less than three weeks removed from meniscus surgery, and another Roethlisberger absence could sink the Steelers to .500 after they looked like one of the league’s most dangerous teams prior to his injury.
Steelers Place Cody Wallace On IR
Cody Wallace‘s season has ended before it even started. According to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via Twitter), the Steelers have placed the offensive lineman on the injured reserve. To take his place on the roster, the team has signed cornerback Al-Hajj Shabazz.
Wallace has been battling a mystery knee ailment for the entire season, preventing him from taking the field. The backup lineman originally suffered the injury during the preseason, and the ailment was initially diagnosed as a hyperextended knee. However, over time, it was clear that the lineman also suffered bone bruising, and Wallace’s knee showed little response to treatment. In his absence, B.J. Finney has served as the team’s interior backup lineman.
The former-fourth rounder has bounced around a bit during his nine-year career, as the lineman has also spent time with the 49ers, Lions, Jets, Texans and Buccaneers. Wallace had a bit of a breakout season in 2015, starting all 16 games in place of injured lineman Maurkice Pouncey. The 31-year-old has made 49 NFL appearances, and he signed a three-year extension with the Steelers back in 2014.
Shabazz, an undrafted free agent out of West Chester in 2015, has also spent time with the Colts and Buccaneers. The 24-year-old has appeared in one game this season, collecting one tackle.
Will Steelers Spend To Keep Le'Veon Bell?
- Meanwhile, Yates also looks at the situation in Pittsburgh between the Steelers and Le’Veon Bell. As the 24-year-old slowly creeps towards unrestricted free agency, the writer wonders whether the team will spend to keep one of their homegrown talents.
[SOURCE LINK]
Ben Roethlisberger Likely To Start Sunday
It appears the torn meniscus that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered in the team’s 30-15 loss to the Dolphins in Week 6 will only end up costing him one start. Barring a setback, Roethlisberger is on track to reclaim his place in the Steelers’ lineup Sunday against the Ravens, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
After Roethlisberger and backup Landry Jones shared snaps in practice Thursday, offensive coordinator Todd Haley said the former “looked good out there.” That’s obviously welcome news for the Steelers, who were confident Roethlisberger wouldn’t miss much time after he underwent surgery Oct. 17. The 34-year-old had already tossed 16 touchdowns against six interceptions when he succumbed to injury, also completing over 64 percent of his passes for 1,685 yards.
In the Steelers’ one full game without Roethlisberger, a 27-16 defeat to the Patriots on Oct. 23, Jones completed 29 of 47 passes for 281 yards, a touchdown and an pick in place of the four-time Pro Bowler. The Steelers then had a bye last week. Their upcoming opponent, AFC North rival Baltimore, has lost four straight after beginning the year 3-0. The Steelers are also slumping, having followed a 4-1 start with back-to-back losses, but the return of Roethlisberger bodes well for their chances of picking up win No. 5.
Latest On Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger exited the Steelers’ contest against the Dolphins two weeks ago with a left knee injury, and he subsequently underwent arthroscopic surgery on that knee. There were conflicting reports as to when Big Ben would return to game action, with ESPN’s Chris Mortensen indicating that Roethlisberger would miss 4-6 weeks and CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reporting that he could be ready for the team’s Week 9 matchup against Baltimore.
Another week has gone by, but we still do not have much clarity on the situation. La Canfora continues to stand by his initial report and says that Roethlisberger will suit up for the team’s pivotal showdown with the Ravens, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter is less optimistic.
Per Schefter, one source close to the situation said, “Ben always puts a premium on the Ravens game, but it’s awfully early. I’d be nervous about it. It could be Dallas [in Week 10] or even the week after. I would guess we’re still a few weeks out.”
Given the nature of the injury, and the fact that Roethlisberger still hadn’t gotten his stitches from the surgery removed as of last week, it seems as if Schefter’s report may be more accurate that La Canfora’s.
Mike Tomlin Suspended Eli Rogers Vs. Patriots
The Steelers have struggled all season, and really throughout 2016, to have their starting offense together thanks to injuries and suspensions.
In addition to Ben Roethlisberger‘s injury, the player expected to be Pittsburgh’s primary slot receiver, Eli Rogers, was unavailable against the Patriots last weekend. A source informed Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link) the wideout was serving a Mike Tomlin-issued suspension for an unspecified violation in Week 7.
Rogers missed two games earlier in the season with turf toe and has struggled to make an impact since a solid opening-night performance that saw the newcomer catch six passes for 59 yards and a touchdown, one that came off a deflection. The second-year UDFA who spent last season on IR has 13 receptions for 135 yards this season.
Pittsburgh has featured exactly zero members of the projected statistic-accruing contingent of its starting offense suit up for all seven games.
Roethlisberger remains out due to his recent knee injury, and Le’Veon Bell incurred a three-game drug suspension. Martavis Bryant is suspended for the season, and Ladarius Green began it on the PUP list. Neither Rogers nor Markus Wheaton has been healthy throughout, either.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Hubert
- Cut: OT Martin Wallace
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Dobson Collins
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Gerald Christian, WR Mose Frazier, CB Joe Powell
- Cut: WR Corey Washington
Cleveland Browns
- Cut: OL Mike Liedtke
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OT Matt Rotheram
- Cut: RB Mike James
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Keith Baxter
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: S Doran Grant (Twitter link via Howard Balzer), DT Louis Nix
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DL Bobby Richardson
- Cut: LB Deion Barnes
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Sterling Bailey, OT Austin Shepherd, DB Cedric Thompson
- Cut: TE Kyle Carter, TE Brian Leonhardt, QB Joel Stave
New England Patriots
- Signed: S Shamiel Gary, DT Anthony Johnson (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com)
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OT Keavon Milton
- Cut: TE Rashaun Allen
Seattle Seahawks
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Donteea Dye
Washington Redskins
- Signed: WR Matt Hazel