Pittsburgh might have snatched a 34-22 Week 5 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but they paid a steep price, losing wide receivers Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson to injury, with neither returning to the field. Talk about a bittersweet victory.
The Wide Receiver Room is Taking a Beating
The hits started coming early. Ben Skowronek went down with a calf injury in the second quarter. He got treated in the sideline medical tent, then went straight to the locker room and never reappeared for the rest of the game. Then, just before halftime, Roman Wilson injured his left hand attempting a catch on his only target of the game. That catch was initially ruled good, but then it got reversed on review, just adding insult to injury. Wilson was seen after the game with a huge wrap on his left hand. This double whammy created an immediate headache for the Steelers’ offense, with rookie Germie Bernard having to move inside to cover Wilson, while Brandon Smith stepped up on the outside. And let’s not forget Michael Pittman Jr. is already out. He suffered a setback with his left foot injury and is expected to miss multiple weeks, ruled out for the week, which makes these new injuries an even bigger problem.
Other Key Injuries and Status Updates
It’s not just the wideouts, either. Cornerback Jamel Dean was already ruled out this week with an ankle injury, though there’s a glimmer of hope he might be ahead of that initial multi-week estimate for his return. Running back Rico Dowdle, nursing a dislocated left foot toe, didn’t play after being listed as questionable. Even T.J. Watt had a scare with a right eye injury in the game, thankfully returning to action, but it just adds to the feeling that Pittsburgh is getting banged up across the board. Other players like Derrick Harmon (left foot) and Gennings Dunker (left knee) are also on the IR, highlighting a deeper injury problem for the team.
The Steelers secured the win, but they’re heading into the next week with serious questions surrounding their receiving corps. With Skowronek and Wilson out indefinitely, and Pittman Jr. already sidelined for multiple weeks, their depth is about to be tested big time. It’s gonna be a tough next few weeks to see how they adapt and keep their offense rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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