After the Thanksgiving slate of games, which included the Ravens losing to the Bengals, the Pittsburgh Steelers briefly regained control of the AFC North before their huge matchup with the Bills on Sunday. Pittsburgh, which has struggled the past couple of games, now finds itself at a crossroads in a pivotal stretch of the season.
A win on Sunday would keep them on top of the division and also give them the head-to-head tiebreaker over Buffalo, something that could matter a lot if both teams are fighting for the same playoff positioning. A loss would drop the Steelers out of first place and make next week’s game against Baltimore even more important in the push to stay alive in the playoff race.
The good news for Pittsburgh is that the latest injury report finally brought some relief. The Steelers are getting key players back, and several others who were questionable are now expected to play on Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is officially set to return against the Buffalo Bills
Earlier this week, Mike Tomlin announced during his Tomlin Tuesday press conference that Derrick Harmon and Broderick Jones will both be out for Sunday. Jones is dealing with a neck injury, while Harmon, who finished last week’s game, will miss time with a knee injury.
Some other Steelers who got banged up against the Bears, including Joey Porter Jr and DK Metcalf, are good to go. Alex Highsmith, who has missed the past couple of games with a pectoral injury, is set to return. And most importantly, after missing last week with a wrist injury despite pushing hard to suit up in Chicago against a team he dominates, Aaron Rodgers is now expected to play against the Bills. His return gives the team a major boost not just at quarterback, but in leadership and confidence on the field.
Overall, the Steelers are in a pretty healthy spot considering the time of year, with only two starters sidelined. Getting Rodgers back is huge for this offense, especially after Rudolph struggled last week. Even though Rodgers has not exactly been lighting it up lately, last week was a reminder to many Steelers fans that Mason Rudolph is still a backup quarterback, and even at Rodgers' age, he brings more to the table.
Whether the return of these key players will be enough to get past the Bills remains to be seen, but it is definitely a step in the right direction and gives fans reason for optimism heading into a crucial part of the season.