Steelers Injury Updates: Conner, Dotson, Edmunds, Okorafor Could All Miss Time

Four Steelers could miss practice time, and potentially Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, with injuries suffered during the team’s Week 14 loss at Buffalo on Sunday night, head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Tuesday.

Running back James Conner, offensive guard Kevin Dotson, strong safety Terrell Edmunds and right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor could all miss time this week, and how much they practice will determine whether they’re able to face the Bengals, Tomlin said.

“Some other guys who got injured in game and whose availability at the least could be compromised at the early portion of this week,” he said. “We do have an extra day of prep, so we are excited about that.”

Dotson left the team’s game against Buffalo and did not return, with Tomlin clarifying on Tuesday that the rookie lineman had suffered a shoulder injury, after he called it a pectoral injury on Sunday night.

Dotson was in the game because starting left guard Matt Feiler had already been lost for the game to a pectoral injury. Feiler was placed on injured reserve on Monday. Dotson was replaced by J.C. Hassenauer.

Okorafor also left the game with his right ankle injury, but he later returned. Jerald Hawkins replaced him for part of one series.

Conner, who was in his first game back from missing two games on the COVID-19 list, finished the game but was listed with a quad injury by Tomlin. He shared reps extensively with Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell on Sunday

Edmunds, who Tomlin said has a shoulder issue, played every defensive snap against the Bills. Sean Davis is the team’s top backup at both safety spots.

With a Monday night game upcoming, the Steelers won’t have their first official practice report out until Thursday.

“We will make all of their availability decisions based on practice and the quality of it,” Tomlin said.