Steelers Special Teams Ace Expected to Return vs. Bengals
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are a relatively healthy unit heading into their regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. Along with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (knee) scheduled to return, head coach Mike Tomlin also said special teams ace and wide receiver Ben Skowronek (hip) is expected to play on Saturday night.
“It looks like Joey Porter is scheduled to make it back, along with Ben Skowronek,” Tomlin said during his Monday press conference.
Skowronek suffered his hip in injury in the Steelers’ Week 16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He did not return and was inactive for Wednesday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Skowronek had two receptions for 26 before suffering the injury. Both of Skowronek’s receptions came on the Steelers’ 10-play, 73-yard touchdown drive to tie the game at 7-7. Skowronek got the drive started with a 17-yard reception from Russell Wilson.
Wilson then connected to Swowronek for a first down on third-and-7. Skowronek limped off the field after making the grab to move the chains.
Earlier this month, Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith highlighted Skowronek with an unusual compliment.
“What you want to see as you get in December, and we talk about our style of play, it’s not just the five guys up front,” Smith started, in a fairly normal level of coach-speak, complimenting the likes of Steelers wide receivers Van Jefferson, Scotty Miller and Skowronek.
Then thinks got a little weirder.
“Sometimes you it takes for you to watch a couple times to appreciate what Van Jefferson did in that game, Scotty, and Skowronek week in and week out,” Smith said. “He’s got a lot of dirtbag to him, which we appreciate.”
Skowronek told Alan Saunders of Steelers Now that he’s “not a wide receiver, he’s a football player.”
Against the Cleveland Browns in Steelers’ Week 14 win he goaded punt returner Kadarius Toney into taking a personal foul one time down the field, then the next, pounced on the ball when Toney muffed the punt.
The previous week as the Steelers dominated in Cincinnati, he blocked Bengals safety Geno Stone about seven yards into the end zone on a Najee Harris touchdown run. He probably didn’t even have to block him for Harris to score. Skowronek just seems to enjoy hitting people. That’s not very wide receiver-like.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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