The Pittsburgh Steelers starting defense currently includes a few players who are sidelined with injuries and it sounds safety Mike Mitchell failed to make it through Wednesday’s practice unscathed.
According to head coach Mike Tomlin, Mitchell twisted his ankle during Wednesdays practice and failed to finish the session as a result of it.
“I don’t know the severity of that,” said Tomlin of Mitchell’s ankle injury. “We’ll see and then we’ll proceed accordingly.”
Mitchell already missed some of training camp with a hamstring injury and as a result he’s only played 22 total snaps during the preseason thus far with all of them coming last Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
The Steelers really need Mitchell on the field with Shamarko Thomas during these final two preseason games as the two just haven’t worked together that much since the team reported to training camp.
Mitchell is entering his second year with the Steelers after signing a five-year, $25 million contract in March of 2014. While the veteran did play in every game for the Steelers last season, he reportedly was slowed by an injured groin for most of the year. That injury was addressed with surgery this past offseason.
This coming weekend against the Buffalo Bills, the Steelers figure to be without linebacker Lawrence Timmons (toe) and Vince Williams (hamstring) in addition to defensive end Stephon Tuitt (ankle). Tomlin will likely update the status of Mitchell during his Thursday press conference.
