As quickly and willfully some Pittsburgh Steelers’ fans will jump on Ryan Shazier for missing so much time, Cortez Allen is in the same boat. He’s been inactive for the last five games with a vague knee injury. This was after losing his starting job in Week One to Antwon Blake.
Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review talked to Allen today about how he’s handling not playing in over a month.
“Um, the situation is what it is. That’s just probably a question better answered by Coach Tomlin,” Adamski tweeted.
He also added Allen had a long pause between sentences.
Allen tried to be professional about his lack of participation but you can sense his frustration.
“I try to keep a level, positive head at all times. Yes, I have my feelings about, um, ya know, not being able to do, but…”
It’s unknown exactly how much the knee injury is holding him back but he’s been healthy enough to participate to varying degrees for the last few weeks. His comments begin to imply he’s been benched and scratched, losing his place to Ross Cockrell. Cockrell has become the team’s #3 CB, playing 238 snaps. Allen has logged just 32.
The Steelers don’t have any major receiver threats to cover Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, especially if Jeremy Maclin misses due to his concussion. But they will the following week against A.J. Green and the Cincinnati Bengals. With William Gay playing so often in the slot, it’ll be up to either Blake or Cockrell to cover him. You’d almost hope to see Allen get a shot at Green given Allen’s size and speed. Whether that happens, of course, is unknown.
Allen was listed as a limited participant today, according to the team’s injury report.
