The Pittsburgh Steelers received both good and bad injury news on December 27, just one day before their Week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns.
Steelers insider Burt Lauten relayed both updates on X, informing: “The Steelers are downgrading G Isaac Seumalo (tricep) to OUT for Sunday’s game in Cleveland. S Jalen Ramsey (illness) has been upgraded to have no injury designation.”
So, Pittsburgh’s two “questionable” tags from the final injury report have been clarified. Unfortunately, Seumalo will miss his second straight game due to the triceps injury, despite practicing in a limited fashion all week.
On the flip side, Ramsey, who missed the past two days of practice with an undisclosed illness, appears healthy and ready to go.
Spencer Anderson Should Spell Isaac Seumalo as Steelers Take on Myles Garrett & Browns in Week 17
GettyIsaac Seumalo (#73) has been ruled out for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17.
This is a bad week to be down offensive linemen, and the Steelers already have backups holding down the left tackle position with Broderick Jones on the injured reserve.
If the Browns have one clear advantage over every opponent, it’s game-wrecking pass rusher Myles Garrett, who just so happens to be one sack away from the NFL single-season record. Needless to say, Garrett is more motivated than ever, and he’ll likely be up against players like Dylan Cook and Spencer Anderson.
Anderson got the start at left guard in place of Seumalo last week, logging 63 offensive snaps. Overall, the results were very positive.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was only sacked two times against the Detroit Lions, and the Steelers also came away with a win. Going one step further, the Pittsburgh rushing attack was phenomenal, with over 200 combined rushing yards on the ground as a team.
Anderson and company will obviously have their work cut out for them in Week 17, facing a hungry Garrett. Still, with Rodgers and his quick release at the helm, it’s possible that this Steelers’ OL will hold up just fine without Seumalo for another week.
Steelers’ Update Puts Exclamation Point on Bad Week of Injury News
In case you missed it, Seumalo is not alone in being ruled out with injury as the Steelers prepare for the Browns.
Per the Steelers website, four players were ruled out for Week 17 on December 26. They were:
- Edge rusher T.J. Watt (lung).
- Wide receiver Calvin Austin (hamstring).
- Cornerback Brandin Echols (groin).
- Cornerback James Pierre (calf).
Fortunately, Ramsey was cleared to play because the Steelers were already shorthanded in the secondary, as you can see. The versatile veteran’s presence should be invaluable, as head coach Mike Tomlin utilizes him as his all-important chess piece once again.
There were a few other positive updates on Friday, like the return of edge rusher Nick Herbig (hamstring) and several other false alarms on the injury report.
All in all, it’s Week 17 of another grueling NFL season, and the Steelers are doing a lot better than some injury-wise. For starters, they still have their quarterback, and that was no guarantee going into the season, considering Rodgers’ age.
Watt is also trending positively towards a Week 18 or Wild Card Round return, which will be key on the defensive side. Not to mention, wide receiver DK Metcalf will return from suspension for the playoffs.
If the Steelers can just get a little healthier over the next couple of weeks, they should be in pretty good shape heading into the postseason.
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