Steelers believe they're Super Bowl contenders. The next 3 weeks will see if they're right
The preseason is over for the Pittsburgh SteelersDECEMBER 9, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
George Pickens - Expected to miss Week 15
Pickens (hamstring) is not expected to be available for Sunday's road matchup against the Eagles, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact Pickens appears in line to miss a second consecutive contest due to what league sources informed Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com on Monday is a Grade 2 hamstring strain. The Steelers haven't yet officially disclosed the severity of Pickens' injury, or his presumed status for Week 15, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the team take a cautious approach to the No. 1 wideout's recovery. Pittsburgh's divisional road matchup against Baltimore in Week 16 could, tentatively, be a better target date for Pickens to retake the field. Tight end Pat Freiermuth, as well as wide receivers Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, Mike Williams, Ben Skowronek and Scotty Miller, will all benefit from increased target opportunities as long as Pickens is unable to go.
DECEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
George Pickens - Managing Grade 2 hamstring strain
Pickens (hamstring), who was inactive for Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns, is believed to be nursing a Grade 2 strain, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Pickens popped up on Pittsburgh's injury report late in Week 14, after he was limited in Friday's practice. The final decision to hold him out versus Cleveland reportedly wasn't made until late Sunday morning, an indication that the Steelers had some hope the standout wide receiver could play through his hamstring issue. A Grade 2 strain, though, could tentatively also impede Pickens' availability Week 15 on the road against Philadelphia, if not for a longer stretch. As long as Pickens can't go, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, Mike Williams, Ben Skowronek and Scotty Miller, as well as tight end Pat Freiermuth, will be called upon to handle expanded opportunities in the receiving game.
DECEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - Not ready to return
Owusu-Koramoah (neck) will not play this Sunday against the Chiefs, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Impact Owusu-Koramoah has already been on IR for the minimum of four weeks, but it looks like he will spend another week there. Technically, he could be designated to return, and practice with the team and just not suit up Sunday, but that doesn't appear to be the plan either. He'll now set his sights on a Week 16 return against the Bengals.
DECEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Chris Boswell - Perfect in win
Boswell made all three of his extra-point tries and both of his field-goal attempts in a 27-14 win over the Browns on Sunday.
Impact Boswell opened the scoring with a 30-yard make in the first quarter, then made a 54-yard field goal to give the Steelers a 13-7 lead going into halftime. The veteran kicker is now 36-for-39 on FGAs this season and remains a perfect 29-for-29 on PATs.
DECEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Scotty Miller - Tallies 38 receiving yards
Miller secured three of four targets for 38 yards during Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns.
Impact Miller didn't see the field in either of Pittsburgh's last two games, but he played 52 percent of the team's offensive snaps Sunday since George Pickens (hamstring) was inactive. Miller recorded his first catches since Week 3, but it seems unlikely that he'll maintain a role once Pickens is back to full health.
DECEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Calvin Austin III - Held to one catch against Cleveland
Austin secured one of four targets for four yards during Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns.
Impact Although the Steelers were without George Pickens (hamstring) during Sunday's matchup, Austin didn't see a significant uptick in playing time. The 25-year-old saw his highest number of targets since Week 10 against Washington, but he was held under 10 receiving yards for the second time over the last eight games, and he failed to score a touchdown after reaching the end zone in each of the last two weeks. Austin has had some glimpses of fantasy production this year, but his output remains inconsistent.
DECEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
