Steelers Playoff Hopes Could be Boosted by Injured Ravens Secondary

The Baltimore Ravens come into their Week 18 matchup, which is meaningless, against the Pittsburgh Steelers looking to get healthy and rest players. For one, Lamar Jackson will not play as the team turns the ball over to Tyler Huntley, but the same could be said for some of the other injured players on the Ravens. Defensive back and special teamer Daryl Worley is already ruled out with shoulder and ankle injuries, but there are more injuries where that came from than just him. That could be big for the Steelers’ playoff hopes.

Star safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) are banged up. Hamilton did not play last week while Humphrey was injured. Slot cornerback Arthur Maulet (hip), cornerback Ronald Darby (illness), Brandon Stephens (ankle), and Ar’Darius Washington (shoulder) round out the list of injured defensive backs.

With the Steelers playoff hopes on the line, a weakened secondary could be significant for their passing offense, which has exploded recently. Marcus Williams and Geno Stone still lie at safety, but the injuries for the Ravens seem like ones that the Ravens will try to have guys rest with, and that includes Hamilton and Humphrey. Stephens did not play last week, and Washington is returning from injured reserve. In other words, the depth players need to step up for Baltimore in the secondary because many may not play.

But this is not unfamiliar territory for the Steelers with the Ravens. They played them in this similar scenario back in 2019, but lost 28-10 to Robert Griffin III and a depleted lineup. Pittsburgh needs to be on their best game against one of the deepest teams in the league, and even when they did defeat the Ravens last time, the offense did very little to move the ball against a highly talented group. Now, it will be up to them to close the door and move to 10-7 on the year.