Mike McCarthy confirms suspicion surrounding a pair of Steelers playmakers who suffered injuries against the Colts on Sunday
The Pittsburgh Steelers watched two wide receivers exit Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts early. Mike McCarthy delivered his update Monday, and an already thin position group now has a tough Tampa Bay defense waiting.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy has confirmed suspicions surrounding wide receivers Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson. Both players left Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts early. Wilson exited with a wrist and finger injury, while Skowronek went down with a calf injury. Neither returned.
Steelers WR injury report
- Roman Wilson: Wrist/finger, ruled out
- Ben Skowronek: Calf, ruled out
- Michael Pittman Jr.: Injured reserve
Mike McCarthy confirms Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek are out
Early Monday morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on X:
“Steelers wide receiver Roman Wilson is expected to miss a couple of weeks due to a finger injury suffered Sunday. He’s still gathering info and seeking a second opinion.”
McCarthy then confirmed the news at his Monday press conference. The biggest takeaway from that presser came right off the jump. Both Wilson and Skowronek have already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That’s a significant blow for a Steelers offense that was already working with limited resources at the position. Pittsburgh now has to prepare for a quality opponent without two of the bodies it was counting on.
Why this is a real problem for the Steelers
In my opinion, this is a problem for Pittsburgh, and it’s not a small one.
As good as Germie Bernard is, and as much as I banged the drum for him to get involved in this offense, he is still only a rookie. Asking a first-year receiver to carry a bigger share of the load against a good defense is fair given what we have seen, but he’s only one player.
On top of that, DK Metcalf has been inconsistent, to say the least. The Steelers need him to be the alpha in this receiver room, and that hasn’t happened with any regularity. Without dependable options around him, defenses can roll coverage his way and dare someone else to beat them.
Then there’s Michael Pittman Jr., who remains on injured reserve. When you add it all up, three of the Steelers’ top-five receivers are officially down. That’s not a depth chart you want to bring into any game, let alone one against a defense with real teeth.
It’s also worth noting that the trade market looks different now. The Steelers can no longer trade for Marvin Harrison Jr., who is now in Houston. That door is closed, and Pittsburgh will have to look elsewhere if it wants a reinforcement.
Buccaneers present a tough test for a shorthanded offense
Tampa Bay is coming off a big win, and that only raises the stakes for Sunday. The Buccaneers’ offense is not very good, but their defense is one of the better units in the league when it puts it all together.
That’s the matchup a shorthanded receiver room has to deal with. The Steelers will need creative play calling and someone to step up if they want to move the ball with any consistency.
I expect some sort of signing this week, and maybe even a trade later on. Pittsburgh simply can’t afford to roll into this game with the bare minimum at wide receiver and hope it works out.
For now, we know both Skowronek and Wilson are out for Sunday, and there are plenty of questions for this Steelers offense heading into a challenging week.
