Steelers Injury Updates: Okorafor Has Concussion; Smith-Schuster, Green Being Evaluated

PITTSBURGH — Steelers right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor has a concussion and is in the NFL protocol, head coach Mike Tomlin announced after the team’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on Sunday, while two other players injured in the game are still being evaluated.

Okorafor left the game late in the third quarter, on a play that was blown dead after he was called for a false start. He was taken to the sideline tent for evaluation and the then to the locker room.

NFL teams do not give further updates on the status of players in the concussion protocol until they return to practice, so it is not clear how much time Okorafor may miss. Veteran Joe Haeg replaced him at right tackle.


Okorafor is the second Steelers tackle to be injured this season. He flipped from left tackle to right tackle to replace Zach Banner, who was placed on injured reserve before the start of the season. Fourth-round rookie Dan Moore Jr. replaced Okorafor at left tackle and has started three games.

The Steelers line has struggled to generate push in the running game or protect Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked four times and hit seven against the Bengals on Sunday. He has been hit 22 times in three games this season.

Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster left the game in the first half with a rib injury that is still being evaluated, Tomlin said. Smith-Schuster was replaced by Ray-Ray McCloud in the second half and did not return.

Center Kendrick Green left the game in the fourth quarter with a right knee injury. The team announced his return to action as questionable, but he did not re-enter the game. J.C. Hassenauer replaced him in the lineup.