5 Steelers are questionable vs. Bengals and 2 are out
Matt Feiler OG: Out (Pectoral)
Not only did Feiler injure his pectoral muscle in the loss to Buffalo, but he also went straight to the injured reserve. Because his injury occurred on Sunday, his placement on the IR means he can not return until the first week of the playoffs. The Steelers placed Spillane placed on the IR prior to the bills game, he could return for the Browns game.
Certainly not a good prognosis for Feiler at any rate. The Steelers already lost Zach Banner for the year to an ACL tear. Feiler is a seven-year veteran. Not the sort of loss you want, especially with a faltering rushing game. While on the injured reserve list, Feiler’s replacement is Cassius Marsh, a player the Steelers signed from the Colts’s practice squad.
Vince Williams LB: Out (COVID)
The good news here Williams will return. The question is when. He is one of the other Steelers who went onto the COVID reserve list from contact with Vance Mcdonald. Mcdonald has since returned, and so did Conner. Williams is still out and has tweeted about his symptoms, which sound to be severe.
Given COVID hit Williams hard, how soon he will recover is still in the air. Perhaps he could return for the Bengals game; it seems more likely he will return for the Colts game at the earliest.
James Conner RB: Questionable (Quadriceps)
Conner missed ten games from injury in 2019. He found himself injured again in the first game of the 2020 season. Conner returned only to miss two games due to COVID. After recovering from COVID he returned for the Buffalo game, only to suffer another injury midway through the game. Now he finds himself on the injury report again.
The Steelers running game is in chaos even with Conner in the lineup, they only rushed the ball 17 times against the Bills. Without Conner in the Washington game, they only rushed 14 times. Against Baltimore, they only had 20 rushes however they were able to surpass 50 yards. Right now it’s uncertain if he can return for the Bengals game. We should know more by Saturday if Conner returns to practice. If not, then expect him to at least miss the Bengals game at least.