The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a short week ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns, and they may have already scored a significant victory before the ball is ever kicked off.

Browns starting center Elgton Jenkins was officially listed as a DNP during Monday’s walkthrough and estimated practice. That is massive news for the Steelers, and more specifically for Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, Derrick Harmon, and Yahya Black. Backup center Luke Wypler is nowhere near the same caliber of player as Jenkins.

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Deshaun Watson expresses confidence, but the truth is more complicated

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson was asked what it would mean if Jenkins can’t go, and he said he has full confidence in Wypler to step in and get the job done.

The truth is, this will be a major blow for Cleveland, and it goes beyond the gap in talent between Wypler and Jenkins. The bigger issue is Watson himself.

The Browns are 2-1. Watson led them to a fourth-quarter victory over the Carolina Panthers last week. Some of that athleticism has returned, and he has looked a little better out of the pocket. But he is still a bottom-tier NFL quarterback. To have a backup center, someone Watson will be interacting with on every single snap, go out there, deliver the football, and then somehow corral himself to hold up against Cam Heyward, Keeanu Benton, and Derrick Harmon is a tall task on its own. Doing it on a short week makes it even harder.

Can the Steelers break the Thursday night trend in Cleveland?

This game has traditionally been a trap game for Pittsburgh. The Steelers haven’t won in Cleveland on a Thursday night in a long time, and their track record in road Thursday night games in general hasn’t been good.

But it’s a new era. Mike McCarthy is here. Both teams are 2-1, and the Steelers’ defensive front could be walking into a situation that plays directly into their hands if Jenkins is unable to suit up.

Thursday night in Cleveland should be a fascinating one.