Mike Tomlin Adds Another Name to Steelers Long Injury List
Mike Tomlin added another name to the Pittsburgh Steelers long injury list, as safety Damontae Kazee is expected to be out this week.
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin added yet another name to the team’s length injury list on Tuesday, when he announced that free safety Damontae Kazee is unlikely to play this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Kazee suffered an ankle injury during pregame warmups before the game the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and though he was able to play through it, he is unlikely to be able to do that again this coming week.
“Kazee rolled his ankle pregame, was able to function in-game,” Tomlin said. “But obviously, on the other side of the game, it really swelled and he’s not in a good spot. He could probably be characterized as doubtful.”
Kazee played about his usual workload against Dallas, getting 17 snaps of playing time on defense. The Steelers did minimize his special teams workload. Kazee plays in the team’s Dime package and in the three-safety Heavy Nickel, where DeShon Elliott rotates into the box and Kazee replaces him as another deep defender.
It’s unclear who will replace Kazee if he’s unable to play against the Raiders. The Steelers do not have another player with extensive free safety playing time on their roster. Strong safety Terrell Edmunds has been playing as a box defender in the Dime package. He could move to a half-field role, with Elliott remaining on the field in the box. They could also try outside cornerback James Pierre or practice squad slot corner Thomas Graham as Dime defenders.
The Steelers could also simply play less Dime, especially this week. The Raiders have not played a single snap with four wide receivers on the field this year, per Sumer Sports. Their most-used package is 11 personnel, with three wide receivers on the field and rookie tight end Brock Bowers, which should be a good fit for the Steelers’ Nickel packages.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT
| Player | Injury | Date | Prognosis | Roster Status |
| FS Damontae Kazee | Ankle | Oct. 6 | Week to week | Active, DBT at LV |
| DE DeMarvin Leal | Stinger | Oct. 6 | Week to week | Active, OUT at LV |
| OLB Nick Herbig | Hamstring | Oct. 6 | Week to week | Active, OUT at LV |
| RB Cordarrelle Patterson | Ankle | Sept. 29 | Week to week | Active, OUT at LV |
| RG James Daniels | Achilles | Sept. 29 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| RB Jaylen Warren | Knee | Sept. 22 | Day to day | Active, DBT at LV |
| OLB Alex Highsmith | Groin | Sept. 22 | One week | Active, OUT at LV |
| CB Cory Trice Jr. | Hamstring | Sept. 22 | Two weeks | Injured reserve |
| RT Troy Fautanu | Right knee dislocation | Sept. 20 | Regular season | Injured reserve |
| TE MyCole Pruitt | Right knee | Sept. 15 | Day to day | Active, DBT at LV |
| WR Ben Skowronek | Shoulder | Sept. 15 | One weeks | Injured reserve |
| LB Tyler Matakevich | Hamstring | Sept. 15 | One weeks | Injured reserve |
| P Cameron Johnston | Right leg | Sept. 8 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| QB Russell Wilson | Calf tightness | Sept. 5 | Day to day | Active |
| LG Isaac Seumalo | Pectoral strain | Aug. 28 | Day to day | Active |
| SS Ryan Watts | Necke | Aug. 24 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| DL Logan Lee | Calf | Aug. 20 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
| OT Dylan Cook | Lisfranc, left foot | Aug. 17 | Week to week | IR-Return |
| C Nate Herbig | Torn rotator cuff | Aug. 14 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| OLB David Perales | Left MCL tear | July 31 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| ILB Cole Holcomb | Left knee | Nov. 2, 2023 | Week to week | PUP/reserve |
Read This Next
