Steelers Injury Updates: Entire Starting Secondary Injured, 3 DNP Wednesday

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers defense did not get good news on the injury front on Wednesday, as three starters missed practice and another four were limited in the team’s first day of preparation to face the Buffalo Bills this Sunday.

Outside cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (hamstring), strong safety Terrell Edmunds (concussion) and free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) all did not participate on Wednesday. Cornerback Cam Sutton (groin, hamstring), cornerback Levi Wallace (foot), defensive lineman Chris Wormley (ankle) and defensive lineman Cam Heyward (elbow, ankle) were all limited.

Witherspoon has been out since leaving in the middle of the Cleveland Browns game in Week 3 and has been replaced by Sutton and Wallace. Without those two available, James Pierre and Josh Jackson were the only other two cornerbacks that dressed for last week’s game against the New York Jets and would be the likely starters outside. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he does not expect Witherspoon to play this week.

Edmunds remains in the concussion protocol after taking a hard hit in a collision with Jets running back Michael Carter while breaking up a pass on Sunday. Tre Norwood replaced him for most of the second half on Sunday, except for when Fitzpatrick also went down, then Norwood moved to free safety and Miles Killebrew stepped in at strong safety.

Fitzpatrick missed just one play while getting checked out for his knee injury on Sunday, but Tomlin said that he would need to be managed this week.

Jackson, safety Elijah Riley and outside cornerback Mark Gilbert are all options to be elevated from the Steelers practice squad this week.

On the defensive line, Heyward suffered both injuries on Sunday, but eventually returned both times. Tyson Alualu, Wormley and DeMarvin Leal all spelled him in the defense. If either Heyward or Wormley can’t play, Isaiahh Loudermilk would be in line to be the next defensive lineman dressed, with Carlos Davis on the practice squad following.