The Pittsburgh Steelers have now released their first official injury report of Week 13 ahead of their Sunday home game against the Cleveland Browns and the Wednesday offering includes two of the team’s offensive starters being listed as non practical participants earlier in the day.
Not practicing on Wednesday for the Steelers were running back James Conner (shoulder), wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion/knee) and cornerback Artie Burns (knee).
Conner isn’t expected to play on Sunday against the Browns after aggravating his shoulder injury in the Week 11 game in Cleveland. He all but ruled himself out for the Sunday game against the Browns during a Monday radio show interview.
As for Smith-Schuster, he reportedly was still wearing a brace on his left knee Wednesday morning. He was, however, cleared by an independent neurological consultant on Wednesday and is no longer in concussion protocol, according to the team. Smith-Schuster suffered his knee injury in the first half of the Steelers Week 11 road loss to the Browns and during the same play he suffered a concussion on. It will be interesting to see if Smith-Schuster can ultimately practice any the remainder of this week. It obviously is not looking good for him to play on Sunday as Wednesday comes to a close.
Burns also suffered his knee injury during the Steelers road loss to the Browns and him not being able to practice on Wednesday isn’t great news. Burns was limited in practice two days last week before ending the week listed as doubtful on the injury report. He was inactive fr the Steelers game against the Bengals along with Conner and Smith-Schuster.
Steelers tackle Alejandro Villanueva showed up on the Steelers Wednesday injury report after being limited in practice earlier in the day. Villanueva seemingly suffered his shoulder injury in the third quarter of the Sunday game against the Bengals while attempting to make a cut block. He was, however, able to finish that game.
