PITTSBURGH — There’s a lot on the line for the Pittsburgh Steelers when they face AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
If the Steelers win, they clinch the division.
Heading into this game on a shorter week, possible injury problems loom large for the Black and Gold.
Specifically, all eyes are on T.J. Watt, who injured his ankle in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, and George Pickens, who hasn’t played in two weeks because of a hamstring injury.
Channel 11 got a closer look at the two key players during practice on Wednesday.
Pickens hasn’t practiced this week. We saw him doing lighter individual work at the start of practice.
Watt had a limited practice on Wednesday after not practicing at all on Tuesday, he was seen doing work off to the side before joining in on individual drills with his teammates.
The statistics are glaring when the Steelers play without Watt. They’re 1-10 in games that he’s missed.
Steelers coaches aren’t worried, though. Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin said he trusts the men that would take Watt’s place if he can’t play in Baltimore.
“I know those guys aren’t T.J. [Watt], but we feel they’re good quality players that we can fit in our system and do the things we need to do,” he said. “Obviously, if you don’t have an impact player like T.J., it affects your game, but I don’t think it’ll affect our overall schematics.”
The Steelers’ offense was limited against the Eagles last Sunday without Pickens, quarterback Russell Wilson’s top target. Wilson says the offense has to be locked in on Saturday if they’re without Pickens for the third straight week.
“We’ve got to be able to calm the nerves early and the excitement, and be able to play and think clearly, and efficiently, and effectively... I think that’s really important,” Wilson said. “I think also too, we’ve got to do the fundamental things. We’ve got to make our layups.”
There are other injuries of note, too. Deshon Elliot, Donte Jackson and Justin Fields haven’t practiced this week. Larry Ogunjobi was limited on Wednesday.
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