The Browns could be without star receiver Amari Cooper against the Steelers after Cooper reinjured a groin injury during Saturday’s practice. He suffered the injury after slipping on the wet field against the Bengals, and his status is now in doubt. The Browns list him as questionable for the game. Cooper’s injury will be monitored over the next 48 hours to determine if he will play in the game.
Part of the rejuvenated Browns wide receiver corps, if Cooper is out, Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cedric Tillman, Marquise Goodwin, and David Bell will be the receivers to step out. That is a potentially significant loss for the team’s passing attack, with Deshaun Watson struggling against the Bengals in the wet conditions.
The Steelers and Browns will each look to build momentum, with Pittsburgh trying to claw back from the stunning blowout at the hands of the 49ers. As it stands, without Cam Heyward and Diontae Johnson, the injuries for the Steelers remain significant. But the secondary played poorly against the 49ers, and without Cooper’s presence, it does take some of the burden off a group that badly needs to rebound.
RELATED: Steelers Coaches Don’t Know Why Team Came Out so Flat
Cooper’s absence has repercussions for the game, but the main task remains stopping Nick Chubb and the ground attack. Chubb remains one of the NFL’s top backs, and when the Steelers allow him to get over 80 yards in a game under Mike Tomlin, the team historically falls short. They are 0-3 against the Browns when Chubb exceeds that mark. Although Chubb ran for over six yards per carry in their game last January, the Steelers got out to a fast start, took it out on Watson, and by the time the second quarter rolled around, Chubb got taken out of the game.