The Steelers are making some serious moves before they face the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, with rookie offensive guard Gennings Dunker landing on injured reserve for what’s expected to be a brutal four to six weeks with an MCL sprain. Talk about a gut punch for the offensive line right out of the gate.
Rookie OL Sidelined, Homer Steps Up
Dunker, a third-round rookie, first popped up on Pittsburgh’s injury report Thursday with a knee designation, and now we know the full extent of the damage. This kid’s absence is a huge blow for the depth up front, and the team had to react fast. To fill his spot on the 53-man roster, the Steelers wasted no time signing running back Travis Homer. That move also opened up a slot on the practice squad, showing just how quickly things can change in the NFL. Insider Tom Pelissero confirmed the severity of Dunker’s injury, and you know any time a rookie is out for that long, it shifts the entire game plan.
More Roster Scrambles And Key Absences
But Dunker’s situation isn’t the only headache for Pittsburgh heading into the Bengals game. They’ve also temporarily elevated running back Lew Nichols and defensive back Doneiko Slaughter from the practice squad to the active/inactive roster. This is strictly a Sunday thing, though, as both guys will revert back to the practice squad after the game. For Slaughter, this is his third elevation this season, and that’s a big deal. After Week 3, he can’t be elevated again unless he gets signed to the full 53-man roster. It’s a clear sign of how thin they are in the secondary, or how much they need him.
These emergency additions, especially at running back and defensive back, are directly tied to some other key injuries. Running back Rico Dowdle is officially OUT for Sunday’s matchup. Plus, both Jaylen Warren, another running back, and defensive back Joey Porter Jr. are questionable. It gets worse: Porter Jr. isn’t even expected to play against Cincinnati. So, not only are they down a rookie O-lineman, but multiple skill positions and another key piece in the secondary are either out or severely hampered. It’s a wild scramble for the Steelers to just get a full, healthy roster on the field for a division showdown.
This Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals just got a whole lot tougher for the Steelers. They’ll need their next-man-up mentality to kick in big time with so many question marks and new faces stepping into critical roles. Can they rally and pull off a win despite these challenges? You know every snap is going to matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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