Steelers Injury Updates: Witherspoon Out, 4 D Starters Limited

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers defense will be significantly limited by injury in the week leading up to its Week 5 battle against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon will miss his second consecutive game, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday. Witherspoon was injured in the second half of the Steelers’ Week 3 loss to the Cleveland Browns and did not play last week against the New York Jets.

In that game, things got significantly more complicated for the Steelers defense, as Terrell Edmunds left the game for the concussion protocol and three others starters played through significant injuries. Edmunds remains in the protocol and his status is unknown for Sunday’s trip to Buffalo.

As far as the others, Tomlin said that he expects Cam Heyward (left elbow, right ankle), Cam Sutton (hamstring, groin) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) all to have to manage their injuries this week. As always, participation, or lack there of, in practice will be the determining factor in whether those three are able to suit up this week.

Without Witherspoon, Sutton had moved exclusively to outside cornerback, with Levi Wallace filling in outside and Art Maulet dominating the reps in the slot. Without Edmunds, Tre Norwood played strong safety, putting even more onus on the back of Maulet in the slot.

If Sutton and Fitzpatrick miss time, reserves James Pierre and Miles Killebrew would also need called upon at the very minimum, with practice squadders Elijah Riley, Josh Jackson and Mark Gilbert likely to see playing time as well.

Chris Wormley and Tyson Alualu will both fill in for Heyward at defensive tackle in sub packages and DeMarvin Leal will likely replace him for work in the base defense if Heyward is unable to play.

Tomlin declined to give a significant update on Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt, who must remain on the injured reserve list for at least one more week, and safety Damontae Kazee, who is injured and suspended for one more week.