Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Likely Without Key Contributor in Crucial Matchup vs. Bengals

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have a road trip against the Cincinnati Bengals on deck for Sunday, providing yet another opportunity to watch AFC North football as it was meant to be watched. Pittsburgh will hope to keep sole possession of first place, and with a win in Week 13 could take a crucial step toward that goal. However, Cincinnati’s offense can compete with anyone on any given night, boasting special seasons from quarterback Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase. As such, the offense must find its way out of its rut and the defense must come out firing.
Injuries on the defensive side of the ball will make that more difficult. The following contributors were listed on the injury report, complete with game statuses.
LIMITED PARTICIPANT Cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring, OUT) Edge Rusher Alex Highsmith (Ankle, DOUBTFUL) Defensive Tackle Montravius Adams (Knee, OUT) FULL Safety Damontae Kazee (Illness) Guard Isaac Seumalo (Rest) Defensive Tackle Keeanu Benton (Hip) Defensive Tackle Cameron Heyward (Rest) Defensive Tackle Larry Ogunjobi (Rest)
Chief among these injuries is Highsmith’s ankle. It’s hard to limit Burrow’s impact on any Sunday, but with the weather irritating his lingering wrist injury, the Steelers have a half-decent shot in Week 13. Being without Highsmith, the team’s second-best edger rusher could give the quarterback enough breathing room to make a key play.
Of course, this is why Pittsburgh made the move for edge rusher Preston Smith. His veteran presence, along with Nick Herbig, should give the Steelers a fighting chance at maintaining pressure. Pittsburgh will also be a bit weaker on the interior, with Adams again out. He hasn’t played since Week 7’s blowout win over the New York Jets, asking the rest of the defensive line to do a little bit more. Fortunately for the Steelers, Benton won’t miss Sunday’s action, as his limited participation on Thursday may have suggeste
With Trice out and the front seven weakened, Pittsburgh has a tall task ahead of it. But good teams are built to win tough games, and if the Steelers are going to prove that they can compete with the class of the AFC, beating a Bengals team with an elite offense would be an important step in the right direction.

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