Week 17 Injury Report

https://www.steelers.com/news/week-17-injury-report-bengals

It is a week too late, but James Conner was back to a full practice Wednesday. It looks like he will be available to face the Bengals.

This isn't a knock on Samuels. It's an understanding that Ridley would have never touched the ball in New Orleans if Conner had been playing.

There are some concerns on defense. Vince Williams did not practice due to a toe injury and Sean Davis sat out with a quad problem. Davis certainly has serious flaws and his hit on Joe Haden in the Chargers' game is the worst single play by any Steelers all season, but the defense is clearly weaker if he and Williams can't go.

Then again, the Bengals are missing Dalton, Green, Eifert and Boyd. If the Steelers can't handle that group well enough to win, they don't don't deserve the slim playoff hopes they currently have anyway.

 

Conner has 909 yards. He has a shot at a 1.000 yard season.

 

Vince Foote won't be missed. Davis has played pretty well this season.

 

Agree on Vince won't be missed. Disagree on Davis as I don't see where he played well this season. He did have the one interception but dropped at least a couple. On TV he is not in the picture frame most of the time as he s playing so far back. He is starting to miss more tackles lately. I guess I was expecting more of a ball hawking type free safety. i won't even mention that I think he closes his eyes on contact like when he bowled over Haden.

 

Vince and Davis have their flaws, but they are the best options the Steelers have. I hope they can suit up.

 

Wednesday, on the Bungles’ side:

DID NOT PRACTICE—
Boyd (knee)
Burfict (concussion — his SEVENTH!)
Evans (ankle)
Kirkpatrick (shoulder)
McRae (hamstring)

FULL PRACTICE—
Dennard (wrist)
Ringo (knee)
Williams (pectoral)

 

Agreed with both.


Davis may not be a ballhawking Free Safety like many want him to be but he has done very well in his inaugural season as a Free Safety. To reduce the amount of pass plays of 40 yards or more by 50% is nothing short of an improvement to the pass defense. Far better than what we had in Mike Mitchell.



The only major issue currently is the Inside Linebacker position. Given the nature of the Tampa 2, that position is critical. Losing Ryan Shazier cost us dearly.

 

For once, Davis showed up to play against the Saints. He had a pick and a forced fum... oh wait... a nice play to force an incomplete pass.

 

As me and you have discussed many times before, there are too many unknowns with the upcoming options. Earl Thomas may or may not be the same again. Tyrann Mathieu seems more so a Strong Safety tham anytning else. Ha Ha Clinton Dix has been a disaster in Washington. Perhaps he could change but there are way too many variables to deduce that he would.



At this point, Pittsburgh is stuck with Sean Davis as it stands. I understand that you, among others, have either animosity to great animosity for him. That being said and, realistically speaking, Sean Davis should have been a Free Safety a season ago and Mike Mitchell should have been moved to being a Strong Safety. That was Sean's natural spot considering corner would have not worked out.



On that note, guess who's fault that is?!?!

 

He seems athletic enough...But he takes some horrendous angles sometimes

 

If this was Ha Ha of two seasons ago, I would easily say yes. Now though? Too difficult to tell. Adding another safety into the mix is likely to happen in itself given the Morgan Burnett case anyway. Question though remains is what type? A starting caliber one? A backup?


One thing I do know of though that me and you can agree on; obtain a pass rusher in Free Agency or the draft. A good one at that. For that matter, it would not surprise me one bit if Pittsburgh uses their first round pick on another one.

 

AB didn't practice...Knee

 

Davis again leads us in tackles. Now from two different positions. Not counting his rookie year when he played 3 positions. The kid needs a chance to settle into one and play it. No Steelers safety has ever gelled year one with the other safety. Not even Clark and troy. It took Ryan into his 3rd season before it really started to click well with troy and him. Davis has a rookie and a part time vet to have to gel with. It's not immediate. I know he should not have to lead the team in tackles every year.

 

He’d just come out of the protocol last week, but he wasn’t able to remain in the game. I’m guessing he won’t clear for this weekend.

 

Okay then he needs another year back there. But he still is not playing well this year as some have said. My problem is most of the times he is not close to the play. Him leading in tackles is not a good thing, it just shows how bad our MLB are getting gouged.

 

I could agree with being our best option, but that doesn't mean they are good.

 

Good or not they are the best we got. Put Dirty Red out there for a game and Vince will look like a Pro Bowler in retrospect.

 

No Boz on the injury report

 

Vince listed as doubtful today, and unlikely to play. AB and Conner likely to be game time decisions. Fort will have expanded role with Vince out.

 

No need because he is on IR.

Brown did not practice Friday and went for tests, so he may sit out Sunday after all.

It does look like Davis will play, but Williams will not on defense. That's not a good sign against the Bengals, who are likely to pound away with Mixon.