Report: Steelers RB James Conner Could Miss Multiple Weeks with Shoulder Injury

Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner will not play in the team’s Week 9 game against the Indianapolis Colts, and furthermore, could miss next Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, as well, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Conner suffered an injury to the AC joint between his shoulder and collarbone late in the Steelers’ Week 8 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he would permit Conner to participate, even without a full week of practice, but the third-year running back was unable to practice at all this week and was listed as doubtful on the team’s Friday injury report.

Schefter’s report cemented Conner’s absence against the Colts and suggested that he may miss next Sunday’s meeting with the Los Angeles Rams.

Jaylen Samuels will start in Conner’s place on Sunday, with Trey Edmunds serving as his backup thanks to the multi-week knee injury that Benny Snell, Jr. suffered against the Dolphins.

Samuels himself is just returning after missing three weeks after having arthroscopic knee surgery. Each of Pittsburgh’s top three running backs and fullback Roosevelt Nix will have missed at least one game due to injury this season.

Nix was listed as questionable with a knee injury on Friday. It’s not clear if it’s the same knee or the same injury that forced him out of the team’s Week 1 game at New England. The game against the Dolphins on Monday night was Nix’s first game back.

With so many injuries at the position, the Steelers added to their depth on Saturday by promotion rookie Tony Brooks-James from the practice squad. To make room on the roster, they waived veteran receiver Donte Moncrief.