Raiders Line Thinner for Matchup with Steelers; G Denzelle Good Out for Season
As the Steelers prepare to take on the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2, they can anticipate an opposing offensive line that is being rattled with injuries.
As first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Raiders guard Denzelle Good suffered a torn ACL in Vegas’ Monday Night game against Baltimore, ending his season.
This is a big blow for a Raiders offensive line that allowed a ton of pressure on quarterback Derek Carr in Week 1.
Carr was sacked three times against the Ravens and hit seven times, and rookie right tackle Alex Leatherwood struggled.
With Good now on the shelf, the Raiders already depleted line got even thinner. Richie Incognito’s status for Week 2 is up in the air, as he is dealing with a calf injury. If Incognito misses Week 2, that will leave the Raiders with John Simpson and fifth-year backup Jermaine Eluemunor to face a Steelers front seven that is already firing on all cylinders.
The Steelers applied constant pressure on Bills quarterback Josh Allen in their 23-16 victory in Week 1, sacking the MVP hopeful three times and hitting him on multiple occasions.
The Raiders have the Steelers number in the Ben Roethlisberger era (5-2 vs Pittsburgh when Roethlisberger starts). That said, the matchup of Vegas’ offensive line and Pittsburgh’s front seven could be what decides the outcome of their Week 2 matchup.
The Raiders injuries up front will open up things for guys like Chris Wormley and Melvin Ingram. Ingram lined up all over the Steelers defensive front in Week 1. While he predominantly came off the edge, the Steelers had him blast through the A gap on multiple plays. Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt are both coming off big games, as well. Seeing a Raiders offensive line that is falling apart will only make them smell blood in the water.
It should be a big day for the Steelers’ pass rush, and their secondary as well. If the Steelers get consistent pressure and make Carr uncomfortable, turnovers will be forced. If that happens, the game could get out of hand very quickly.
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