Pittsburgh’s already facing a brutal short week to prep for Thursday Night Football against the Cleveland Browns, and their final injury report just dropped a bomb: two absolutely crucial players, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and running back Rico Dowdle, are officially OUT for the game. This isn’t just a bump in the road; it is a serious hit to their lineup before a divisional slugfest.
Steelers’ Secondary Facing an Uphill Battle on a Short Week
Losing Porter Jr., especially on a short week where recovery time is minimal, is a massive blow to the Steelers’ defense. He had been a full participant earlier in the week, but Wednesday’s report showed him as a limited participant for “NIR/conditioning/back” reasons, and now he is out. Plus, running back Rico Dowdle, who was a DNP all week with a toe injury, is also sidelined. Missing your top back and a key piece of your secondary against a division rival? That is brutal.
And it does not stop there. The Steelers secondary is really hurting. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, battling a wrist issue, was limited all three days of practice and is officially questionable. Fellow cornerback Brandin Echols, dealing with a concussion, also remained a limited participant all week and is questionable for TNF. If either of those guys can’t go, or are limited, Pittsburgh’s defense is going to be seriously tested.
Browns’ Status Still Up in the Air Before Kickoff
While Pittsburgh has laid out their full hand, the Cleveland Browns are still playing it close to the vest. Their official Wednesday injury report and game statuses are yet to be revealed, which only adds to the suspense for Thursday night. What we do know is that they’ve got some significant names battling.
On Monday and Tuesday, cornerback Tyson Campbell (knee), safety Grant Delpit (shoulder), and offensive tackle Tytus Howard (knee) were all limited in practice. Wide receiver Tylan Wallace (knee) and center Elgton Jenkins (concussion) were DNPs both days, which is never a good sign. Guard Teven Jenkins (back) went from DNP on Monday to a limited participant on Tuesday, showing some slight progress. But until Cleveland drops that final report, we will not know who they’re truly missing.
Thursday Night Football against the Browns is going to be an absolute grind. With Porter Jr. and Dowdle out, and others questionable, the Steelers are walking into this divisional battle with their backs against the wall. This game is huge for early-season momentum, and Pittsburgh’s depth is about to be tested like never before.
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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