The Pittsburgh Steelers have another huge AFC North matchup on Sunday night as they travel to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. For the second straight game, Pittsburgh will have an opportunity to play for the division lead.
After defeating Cincinnati earlier this season, the Steelers will look to sweep the season series, but this matchup could be their toughest test yet, with the game taking place on the road under the primetime lights.
Coming off their bye week, the Steelers have had an opportunity to get healthier, particularly at wide receiver. One of their injured receivers is set to return, which could give Pittsburgh another option on offense as it prepares for this important divisional matchup.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Ben Skowronek trending toward a return after missing the past two games with a calf injury
With Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson still on injured reserve, Ben Skowronek is another Steelers wide receiver who has been sidelined over the past couple of weeks after suffering a calf injury against the Colts. While Skowronek is primarily a special teams contributor, he has also shown that he can make plays as a receiver when given the opportunity. His versatility and willingness to contribute in different areas make him a valuable depth piece for Pittsburgh.
With the current makeup of Pittsburgh's wide receiver room consisting of DK Metcalf, rookie Germie Bernard, and two practice squad players, Brandon Smith and Brandon Johnson, getting Skowronek back would provide some much-needed depth.
He practiced as a full participant all week, which is an encouraging sign as he continues working his way back for Sunday's matchup. Having another experienced option available would give the Steelers some additional flexibility, especially with their receiving corps already dealing with multiple injuries.
Although Skowronek isn't heavily involved in the passing game, he does have a good rapport with Aaron Rodgers and actually caught a 23-yard touchdown against the Bengals the last time these two teams met. It was a beautifully designed play that showed what he can bring to the offense when given the opportunity.
While he may not see a high number of targets, his ability to make the most of limited opportunities shouldn't be overlooked. His ability to contribute as a blocker in the run game is another added benefit, particularly with Pittsburgh continuing to rely on its running backs to establish the offense.
At this point, any healthy body at wide receiver is a welcome addition for Pittsburgh. Slowly but surely, however, this position group is starting to get healthier heading into an important AFC North matchup.
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