Injuries will keep Sutton Smith off the field for the second consecutive game. Here’s why the Steelers linebacker is missing a huge window of opportunity.
The Steelers have an opening (albeit, temporary) at outside linebacker. It was announced yesterday that impressive, second year outside linebacker, Ola Adeniyi, will miss at least 2-4 weeks with a meniscus tear:
Ola Adeniyi has meniscus tear. Out 2-4 weeks min
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) August 16, 2019
Adeniyi was a lock to make the Steelers roster, and he will undoubtedly rejoin the team in September. However, Ola’s injury opens the door for another outside linebacker to crack the 53-man roster.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like 6th round draft choice, Sutton Smith, will be that man.
Brian Batko of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Sutton Smith with miss the second of two preseason games so far for the Steelers. Here is what Smith had to say in an interview:
"“There’s a lot of stuff I really can’t do right now. … You just don’t want the risk of re-injuring it, really. I’m still going through plays, just watching a little bit more film on my phone or iPad, and just trying to stay tuned-in, mentally. That’s really the big thing.”"
Unfortunately for Sutton Smith, staying tuned mentally may not be enough to cut it when you are a 6th round draft choice.
The Steelers are running desperately thin at outside linebacker after Adeniyi was laid up with surgery and Pittsburgh waived J.T. Jones.
Sutton Smith would have had ample opportunity to prove himself tonight against the Chiefs, but that opportunity will pass him by. Instead, 24-year old rookie, Tuzar Skipper, stands to be the biggest beneficiary of Ola Adeniyi’s injury.
There is one outside linebacker spot that is wide open for the taking to start the season for the Steelers. Sutton Smith plans on suiting up in week three of the preseason when the Steelers travel to Tennessee, but will it be too late by then?
Tuzar Skipper is looking like the favorite to land on the roster if the team elects to go with four outside linebackers to start the season. Sutton Smith needs to avoid setbacks and play like a man on fire if he wants a shot at making the Steelers this year.