Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers Offensive Weapons Banged Up In Advance Of Giants Clash

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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At this point in the NFL season, all teams are banged up. As a coach or team executive, you can only hope that a spate of injuries does not affect one position. Unfortunately for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the injury bug has bitten the team’s offense hard.

Everyone knows that Antonio Brown remains one of the most dynamic talents in the league at wide receiver. The New York Giants secondary will have a tough time holding down Brown all day at Heinz Field. But Brown could be a one-man receiving band on Sunday.

Banged Up Williams

Running back Le’Veon Bell is also healthy and a force in the rushing and passing attacks. But the Steelers’ official injury report listed back-up running back DeAngelo Williams and back-up receiver Darius Heyward-Bey as did not practice (DNP) on Wednesday.

Dec 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams (34) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers won 33-20. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

According to Penn Live on Nov. 29, 2016, head coach Mike Tomlin thought Williams might be able to go on Sunday. “[Williams has] been working extremely hard and I think he’s starting to get some signs or some results of that week. And that’s encouraging,” Tomlin said.

Fitzgerald Toussaint will back-up Bell, if Williams remains sidelined.

Banged Up Receivers

Former Giants’ tight end, Xavier Grimble practiced fully on Wednesday, as he deals with a quadricep strain. Wideout Sammie Coates does not show up on the injury report, since he has played with a broken fingers sustained in the game against the New York Jets several weeks ago. Coates has not played much offense since then, but has been still contributing on special teams.

According to PennLive, “Tomlin said he’d like to think Coates is getting closer to resuming a normal role. He was the Steelers’ No. 2 receiver this season before his injuries. Pittsburgh is down to three other healthy receivers in Antonio Brown, Eli Rogers and Cobi Hamilton – activated from the practice squad in Week 6 – who have filled the entire rotation.”

Another receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey has a mid-foot injury and reported to be on a scooter in the Steelers locker room.