Steelers are ‘virtually’ injury free according to Coach Mike Tomlin

The Steelers finally took to the field on Saturday after a long wait by fans. The game marked our first chance to see all the new Steelers Players.

As in any preseason game, some players made big plays, and some were less than impressive. Nonetheless, no matter what perceptions you had of the Steelers throughout the first few weeks of training camp, the win against Seattle highlighted the potential for some Steelers players to have a good season allowing the Steelers to be competitive.

Yet once the Steelers take to the field, no matter how good the Steelers look, there will eventually be injuries. The Steelers first game in 2022 proved no exception. There were a few injuries.They had one potentially serious injury to Karl Joseph,  with the rest of the injuries not appearing overly serious, so most should be back quickly. Here are Steelers currently on the injury list.

Karl Joseph S: questionable (ankle)

Perhaps the most serious of all the injuries, and we are awaiting a comprehensive update. Initially listed as questionable it’s entirely possible the Steelers could downgrade him further. After the Injury, Brooke Pryor of ESPN reported he was on crutches and in a boot. Typically not a good sign.

Joseph seemed in line to be the second string behind Edmunds; now, we will have to see how serious the injury is. The injury occurred on special teams, and he was taken off in the cart and never played a defensive snap. Hopefully, the injury turns out to be less severe than it appears.

Anthony Miller WR: questionable (shoulder)

With many wide receivers having memorable moments in the Steelers first preseason game against the Seahawks, Anthony Miller never had a chance to take the field. He was on the sideline with his arm in a sling. He injured his shoulder. We are not sure if he reaggravated his shoulder injury suffered during the 2021 training camp with the Texans or if the injury is brand new, but it occurred on the Thursday before the game with the Seahawks.

His absence is not a huge blow, as even if he makes the 53-man roster only figured to be the number five receiver. It’s hard to say if he will recover in time for the Steelers game with Jacksonville. If the injury is prolonged, it’s hard to say how it will affect his chances of staying on the Steelers in 2022.

Ahkello Witherspoon CB: questionable (shoulder)

At first glance, it did not appear Witherspoon’s injury seemed significant, yet you never want to downplay an injury, especially when you lost a cornerback on the game’s opening kickoff. Nevertheless, Witherspoon seemed in good spirits trotting off the field after his injury with the Seahawks in the first quarter of the game.

This injury obviously won’t jeopardize his chances of making the 53-man roster. It might be a safe assumption that in a worst-case scenario, the Steelers might opt to sit him out of the two remaining preseason games to allow him to heal for the season opener with the Bengals. Barring any new developments, fans should not worry about his injury.

Marcus Allen LB: Ankle (questionable)

Like Anthony Miller, Allen’s injury occurred earlier in the week, forcing him to miss the contest. While listed as an ankle injury, he has also suffered a hamstring injury in practice as well. His absence allowed other linebackers to make some early impressions on fans and coaches, such as Mark Robinson, who had a strip sack late in the game.

However, there seems to be very little news indicating whether the injury is severe enough to miss the rest of the preseason, nor should it impact his chances of surviving the final cutdown. Yet, if you go by Mike Tomlin’s post-game interview, that seems unlikely. We may know more by the Jacksonville game.

Benny Snell RB: questionable (knee)

Based on other reports online, his injury does not seem overly severe, yet serious enough that they held him out of the game with the Seahawks. Based on how he has performed the last two seasons, one would think he could find his job in jeopardy, especially after the performance of Anthony McFarland and Jaylen Samuels in Saturday’s contest. Nonetheless, it appears Snell may return before the end of the Steelers preseason. However, many would argue that the Steelers should part ways with Snell sooner rather than later.

Calvin Austin WR: questionable (foot)

The Steelers holding Calvin Austin out of the Seahawks game was disappointing to those who wanted to see how he would perform in a game situation, as he had been making a name for himself. Heading into the game, no one knew the Steelers planned on holding him out until KDKA reported he would miss the game. There is still a little confusion as to the severity of his injury.

Apparently, he graced the sidelines in a boot, meaning he couldn’t play even if he wanted. In the post-game interview, Mike Tomlin stated his injury was still under evaluation. He also said he should be back sooner than later, and other than the Karl Joseph injury, none of the others had any significance. For now, we will need to wait a week to see if Austin finally gets his chance to play or if he may miss the pre-season entirely.

All things considered, if you take Mike Tomlin at his word, then the Steelers, to a large degree, are virtually injury-free. Which for now is good. However, as in every season, once September 11th rolls around, injuries will mount, but as long as the Steelers manage to avoid serious ones, perhaps we can expect good things this season.