PITTSBURGH — The Steelers won back-to-back games for the first time in the 2019 NFL season on Monday, beating the Miami Dolphins, 27-14 at Heinz Field.
But like so many times for the Steelers this season, the game came with significant loss of personnel due to injury. Offensive starters James Conner, Ramon Foster and Benny Snell were all unable to finish the game.
Foster left in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion. He was later diagnosed with a concussion and declared out for the rest of the game. Foster has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol. He was replaced by B.J. Finney.
Snell sought treatment in the team’s sideline medical tent for a knee issue in the second quarter and did not return to the game after initially being listed as questionable to return. He was later downgraded to out.
Conner played through nearly the entire game, before leaving on the Steelers’ penultimate offensive possession. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that Conner injured the AC joint in his shoulder. With Snell and Conner out, Trey Edmunds finished the game at running back.
Quarterback Mason Rudolph (concussion), inside linebacker Mark Barron (hamstring) and wide receiver James Washington (shoulder) all returned from injuries while outside linebacker T.J. Watt was able to play through his abdominal injury.
“I felt pretty good,” Watt said. “Some moves, I felt limited, just because of my abdominal. I feel a lot better right now than I thought I would coming out of a full game. I didn’t think I was going to be able to play as much as I did. We’ll see how much soreness kicks in the next few days here.”
Tomlin also added that center Maurkice Pouncey played through a calf injury. Running back Jaylen Samuels (knee surgery) and inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III (back) did not dress.
The Steelers will have their depth tested at running back this week, though Samuels seemed near a return after being a full participant in practice all week coming out of the bye. They’ll enter the week with Edmunds and practice squad back Tony Brooks-James.
They also have one fewer day than usual for preparation coming off a Monday night game and looking ahead to next Sunday’s meeting with the 5-2 Indianapolis Colts.
“On a short week, we’ve got to prepare with an edge moving forward,” Tomlin said.