Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been healthy all year. Before Sunday’s game against the Colts, he may have suffered an injury.
From the CBS pregame, Rodgers seemed to injure a finger on his throwing hand before the Week 9 contest.
The team has made no updates, and there’s no reason to think he won’t play. That said, it’s a finger on his throwing hand. But it’s something worth watching as this game gets started.
Rodgers has been as good as advertised this season. The problems for the 4-3 Steelers have come on the defensive side of the ball.
The field at Acrisure Stadium continues to appear to be nearly equal parts grass and sand.
The attached photo was taken on Sunday morning, in the hours before the Steelers will host the Colts. No game has been played there since last Sunday night, when the Packers beat the Steelers.
After the Week 8 game, Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers said that the new sod, installed after a disastrous Week 6 home against the Browns, was in “slightly better shape” than the previous game.
Sand was prevalent last week, with cleats kicking it up all night. Today, pay close attention to the appearance of the field — and to the comments made by players after the game ends.
In two weeks, Pitts plays there on Saturday and the Steelers play the Bengals on Sunday. Two weeks later, it’ll be another Saturday-Sunday Pitt-Steelers two-pack, with the Bills visiting on Thanksgiving weekend.
What will it take to get it fixed? Another season-ending, non-contact knee injury, like the one suffered three weeks ago by Miles Killebrew? More slip-n-slide field goal attempts, like the Chris Boswell miss from the Cleveland game?
Or will it take the players refusing to play? While the labor deal prevents work stoppages, an imminent safety hazard could justify a wildcat strike.
While there would be significant legal risks if the players ever refuse to play, it would definitely go a long way toward ensuring that the playing surface is more like Lambeau Field and less like Malibu Beach.
Word on Saturday was that Joe Flacco was on track to start at quarterback for the Bengals in Sunday’s home game against the Bears and official word of his status came on Sunday morning.
Flacco is active despite the right shoulder injury that caused him to miss Wednesday’s practice and limited him the rest of the week. Flacco was hurt on a sack in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Jets, but he did not miss any offensive plays.
The Bengals will be without defensive end Trey Hendrickson for the second time in three games. Hendrickson is inactive after being listed as doubtful to play due to a hip injury.
Bears at Bengals
Bears: RB D’Andre Swift, QB Case Keenum, LB Ruben Hyppolite, WR Luther Burden, RB Roschon Johnson, DL Dominique Robinson
Bengals: CB Marco Wilson, LB Logan Wilson, OL Dalton Risner, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Trey Hendrickson, QB Sean Clifford
Falcons at Patriots
Falcons: CB Billy Bowman, RB Nathan Carter, OL Michael Jerrell, WR Casey Washington, DL Ta’Quon Graham, DL Zach Harrison
Patriots: LB Caleb Murphy, DT Eric Gregory, G Caedan Wallace, S John Saunders, QB Tommy DeVito, RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Chargers at Titans
Chargers: S Tony Jefferson, CB Tarheeb Still, LB Kyle Kennard, G Mekhi Becton, T Austin Deculus, TE Will Dissly
Titans: WR Calvin Ridley, DT Jeffery Simmons, LB Arden Key, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, WR Bryce Oliver, S Xavier Woods, OL Drew Moss
Colts at Steelers
Colts: DE Samson Ekubam, RB DJ Giddens, WR Anthony Gould, DE Tyquan Lewis, S Reuben Lowery, TE Will Mallory, T Luke Tenuta
Steelers: WR Scotty Miller, S Chuck Clark, LB Cole Holcomb, S Jabrill Peppers, OL Andrus Peat, DL Logan Lee
49ers at Giants
49ers: QB Brock Purdy, RB Jordan James, WR Ricky Pearsall, C Jake Brendel, DE Bryce Huff, DL CJ West, S Marques Sigle
Giants: S Jevón Holland, CB Paulson Adebo, CB Cor’Dale Flott, DL Chauncey Golston, T Jermaine Eluemunor, TE Daniel Bellinger, QB Jameis Winston
Broncos at Texans
Broncos: CB Pat Surtain, TE Nate Adkins, WR Marvin Mims, S P.J. Locke, DL Sai’vion Jones, DL Jordan Jackson, RB Jaleel McLaughlin
Texans: QB Graham Mertz, RB Dameon Pierce, T Jarrett Kingston, T Trent Brown, DE Dylan Horton
Vikings at Lions
Vikings: FB CJ Ham, T Walter Rouse, TE Josh Oliver, TE Ben Sims, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, LB Austin Keys, CB Jeff Okudah
Lions: RB Craig Reynolds, DT Quinton Jefferson, DT Mekhi Wingo, S Erick Hallett, S Kerby Joseph, S Jammie Robinson
Panthers at Packers
Panthers: LB Princely Umanmielen, WR Hunter Renfrow, QB Mike White, C Cade Mays, TE James Mitchell, DT Cam Jackson
Packers: WR Dontayvion Wicks, K Lucas Havrisik, OL Jacob Monk, OL Donovan Jennings, DL Lukas Van Ness, DL Warren Brinson
The Colts are calling up wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to play on Sunday against the Steelers.
Treadwell was activated from the practice squad today, giving him an opportunity to play tomorrow.
Treadwell was a major draft bust when the Vikings took him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, but he has managed to stick around in the NFL, contributing more on special teams than on offense in recent years.
The Colts also elevated defensive end Durell Nchami from the practice squad, activated cornerback Jaylon Jones from injured reserve, signed cornerback Cameron Mitchell to the 53-man roster from the practice squad, waived linebacker Chad Muma and waived safety Trey Washington.
The Steelers won’t have safety Jabrill Peppers in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Colts and they may not have Chuck Clark, but they should have the newest addition to their secondary available.
Peppers has been ruled out with a quad injury. He made his first appearance on the injury report on Thursday as a limited participant and did not practice on Friday. Clark, who has started the last two games, is listed as questionable after missing practice on Friday with an illness.
The Steelers traded with the Patriots for safety Kyle Dugger (knee) this week and he has no injury designation after a full practice on Friday.
Wide receiver Scott Miller (finger) and cornerback Cory Trice (hamstring, knee) have also been ruled out. Linebacker Malik Harrison (knee), linebacker Cole Holcomb (illness), and quarterback Will Howard (right hand) are listed as questionable.
