Even though Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller ended the week listed as questionable on the team’s Friday injury report with a rib injury, it’s beginning to sound like he might miss the Sunday night home game against the Indianapolis Colts.
On Friday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that while Miller is expected to be a game-time decision Sunday night, he’s unlikely to play.
Sunday morning, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported on Twitter that Miller is “struggling” with his recent injury, which certainly makes sense being as the veteran tight end couldn’t return for the second half on last week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks after suffering his rib injury.
Should Miller wind up sitting out Sunday night, it would mark just the eighth game that he has failed to play in during his long career. The last game he missed was in Week 2 of the 2013 season as he was finishing up his rehab from the serious knee injury that he suffered late in the 2012 season that required surgery.
Miller has 39 catches for 390 yards and a touchdown on the season. If unable to play Sunday night, tight ends Matt Spaeth and rookie Jesse James will be asked to pick up the slack.
The inactives for Sunday night’s game will be announced 90 minutes prior to kickoff and at that time we’ll know for sure whether or not Miller will give it a go against the Colts.
