PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) leads the list of inactives for Wednesday’s crucial game against the 14-1 Kansas City Chiefs.
Porter was able to return to the playing field after he was initially injured against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, leading to the possibility that the Steelers’ top cornerback might not have to miss much time with the injury.
But Porter will not play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday, and it doesn’t seem that he’s particularly close to a return, either.
After Porter tried to return to the game against the Ravens, he came back out of the game for good and it was determined that what was initially suspected as a calf injury was actually to his right knee.
Porter is suspected to have suffered a PCL sprain, an injury that usually takes at least a couple of weeks to heal up. Steelers running back Jaylen Warren missed two weeks with that same injury earlier this season, and was less than 100% when he returned the third week.
Not only did the team rule Porter out on Tuesday, they announced that he did not practice at all this week, not a strong sign that he’s close to a return from the injury.
James Pierre is expected to replace Porter in the starting lineup with Donte Jackson returning.
Wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) and quarterback Justin Fields (abdomen) are also sidelined against Kansas City. Fields will serve as the No. 3 quarterback, however. Kyle Allen will be the No. 2 quarterback for the second consecutive week.
Fields suffered the injury against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15. He was injured when he was running a read-option play and was hit late as he was sliding by Eagles safety Reed Blankenship.
Fields did not practice on Monday and was limited on Tuesday before being listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game.
Defensive lineman Dean Lowry and outside linebacker Preston Smith are surprise healthy scratches. Smith had been active for every game since he was acquired from the Green Bay Packers, while Lowry started last week.
The Chiefs will be without All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones (calf). Jones suffered a calf injury in Kansas City’s 27-19 win over the Houston Texans on Saturday, and did not return to that contest. He did not practice on Monday, but was limited on Tuesday, leading to a questionable designation for the Wednesday game.
A combination of Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi, Charles Omenihu and Felix Anudike-Uzomah will replace the versatile Jones. Jones lines up all over the Kansas City defensive line, from the edge to nose tackle, and is one of the best defensive lineman in the league.
The 6-foot-6, 310-pound, five-time Pro Bowler has five sacks, 37 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits and one forced fumble this season.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.