Steelers Injury Updates: Warren, Witherspoon Out; 2 Questionable vs. Colts

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon have been ruled out with injury for the team’s Week 12 game against the Indianapolis Colts and two others are questionable.

Warren suffered a hamstring injury in the Steelers’ Week 11 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals and did not participate in practice all this week. Benny Snell will assume his role as the primary backup to starter Najee Harris, though when Snell held that role in 2021, he did not get nearly as many carries as Warren has so far this season. Warren has 38 carries for 190 yards this season.

Harris and Snell will be the only two active running backs on the 53-man roster. Anthony McFarland Jr., Jason Huntley and Master Teague are all available to be elevated from the practice squad.

Witherspoon will miss his second straight game and has played in just one contest since first injuring his hamstring in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns. He did not practice at all this week. Levi Wallace and Cam Sutton should be expected to continue to start at outside cornerback, with Art Maulet working in the slot.

Wide receiver Miles Boykin and inside linebacker Robert Spillane are both questionable to play.

Boykin suffered an oblique injury in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals. He missed Thursday’s practice, but was limited on Friday and Saturday. Boykin has been serving as the team’s No. 5 wide receiver and primary backup to outside receivers Diontae Johnson and George Pickens since the trade of Chase Claypool to the Chicago Bears.

Cody White is an option to be elevated from the practice squad to fill Boykin’s role. Slot receivers Gunner Olszewski and Steven Sims will likely see increased usage if Boykin cannot play.

Spillane was added to the injury report on Friday, when he was limited with a back ailment. He was limited again on Saturday, leading to him being listed as questionable for Monday’s game.

Spillane is the Steelers’ No. 3 inside linebacker behind Devin Bush and Myles Jack and usually plays the Dime linebacker role. One of Bush or Jack and safety Terrell Edmunds would all be options to replace Spillane’s Dime linebacker role if he cannot play. Rookie Mark Robinson, who has yet to be active for a game this season, would likely assume Spillane’s backup role if he can’t dress.

Center Mason Cole, who was limited earlier in the week with the mid-foot injury that forced him from the Cincinnati game, was a full participant on Saturday and does not have an jury designation for the game.

Right guard James Daniels, who was limited on Friday with a groin injury, was a full participant on Saturday and will play against the Colts. So will No. 3 tight end Connor Heyward, who missed Friday’s practice with an illness.