Steelers standout rookie defensive tackle Keeanu Benton is dealing with an oblique injury that would have limited him on Monday had the team practiced before their Thursday Night clash against the New England Patriots. The Steelers dealt with injuries throughout the game, but Benton is a new injury that head coach Mike Tomlin did not mention in his postgame and Monday press conferences.
Benton played just 25 snaps against the Cardinals, but it is unknown whether that was related to the injury. Regardless, the fact that he started at limited means that he will likely play on Thursday. But since obliques are muscle injuries and can be tough to navigate regardless, the Steelers do have to be aware of the implications.
That comes after the news that Montravius Adams is set to return from an ankle injury he suffered a month ago against the Tennessee Titans for Thursday’s clash with the Patriots. Tomlin said that Adams is up and fully ready to go, meaning he will play, and the team will have their full defensive line rotation for the first time since Week 1 of the season. That will help the Steelers defense as long as both Benton and Adams are healthy and able to play.
Benton has gone on a tear. Benton only played 25 snaps on Sunday against the Cardinals, which is a highly questionable move. But he is producing when he gets the snaps, and earned the team’s highest grade from Pro Football Focus. With Adams out, Benton played just at nose tackle, but with him back, it should give the team a chance to play Benton more in the sub-packages they started to roll him into before Adams went down.