Tomlin says Steelers could be without three starters this week vs. Chiefs
PITTSBURGH 鈥� When the Steelers host Kansas City at Heinz Field on Sunday night, they will finally have Le鈥橵eon Bell. But they might not have much else.
During his weekly press conference Tuesday, coach Mike Tomlin said that the Steelers could be without three starters for their Week 4 game against the Chiefs. Linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee), guard Ramon Foster (chest) and wide receiver Eli Rogers (foot) are all 鈥渧ery questionable,鈥� according to Tomlin.
That is not all, though. Safeties Robert Golden (hamstring) and rookie Sean Davis (back), who Tomlin did not mention as injured after Sunday鈥檚 34-3 loss at Philadelphia, may not play. If Davis and Golden can鈥檛 go 鈥� that will be determined in practice this week 鈥� it could press Shamarko Thomas and Justin Gilbert into action.
Gilbert, a first-round pick just two years ago, was acquired earlier this month from Cleveland for a 2018 sixth-round pick. He played just two special teams snaps last week against Philadelphia.
鈥淗e鈥檚 past the learning what to do stage,鈥� Tomlin said.
鈥淣ow, in both phases he鈥檚 moving on to the critical element of gaining enough detail to be successful to where we鈥檙e comfortable and he鈥檚 comfortable.鈥�
Thomas was a third-round pick in 2013 but has been relegated to a special teams player since.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to look at him and other in terms of how we allocate the division of labor,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淲e acknowledge there is going to be an expansion of roles this week given some of the injury circumstance. I鈥檓 sure he and others are looking forward to the opportunity to No. 1 prove that they鈥檙e capable in preparation and, ultimately, No. 2 go play.鈥�
If Shazier can鈥檛 go, he will be replaced by Vince Williams, who can play either the buck and mike linebacker spots.
If Rogers can鈥檛 go, Markus Wheaton and Darrius Heyward-Bey will likely play the slot receiver position while Antonio Brown will handle punts.
If Foster can鈥檛 go, he will be replaced by B.J. Finney, who took over in the first half last week.
鈥淚 thought he was solid,鈥� Tomlin said of Finney.
The Steelers will have Bell against the Chiefs. Tomlin said conditioning is not a concern for Bell and intimated that his star running back, who is coming off a three-game suspension for violating the NFL鈥檚 substance abuse policy, will play extensively.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see how sharp he is this week when we get him out on the practice field and go from there,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淏ut rest assured you鈥檙e going to see Le鈥橵eon Bell and a lot of him on Sunday.鈥�
TALKING POINTS
n The Steelers have given up 300 passing yards in each of their first three games and rank 31st in the league against the pass. The lack of a pass rush 鈥搄ust one sack 鈥� has contributed mightily to that, Tomlin said. But he said he was more disappointed in the front seven鈥檚 performance in the previous two weeks. 鈥淭he other games we were controlling and had the lead,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淲e had our opponents somewhat one dimensional and should have taken better advantage.鈥�
n Tackling 鈥� missed tackling, more specifically 鈥� cost the Steelers in Philadelphia. Without much tackling to be seen in regular-season practices, Tomlin acknowledged it鈥檚 difficult to improve. 鈥淥ur general positioning, relative to our responsibilities, and our angles and how we pursue the ball, we do it hard, we have to do it smarter than what we displayed on Sunday,鈥� he said.
n Even with Sunday鈥檚 game out of reach in the second half, Tomlin said he didn鈥檛 give much thought to taking out Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown or any of his starters. Tomlin said he鈥檚 slow to admit defeat and that he takes responsibility for keeping them in. 鈥淲e play and we play to win,鈥� Tomlin said. 鈥淲e understand that injuries are part of football but we don鈥檛 let that fear be our guide in decision-making.鈥� That, he said, doesn鈥檛 change due to circumstances.
n The Steelers had three kickoffs returned last week, when the Eagles appeared to kick intentionally high and short. Tomlin said the Steelers can do the same and haven鈥檛 ruled it out yet. Tomlin said it鈥檚 still too early to tell if the NFL鈥檚 new rules on touchbacks to the 25 have had the desired effect of reducing injuries. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 transpired right now is really no indication of what the larger body is going to tell us,鈥� he said.
n Alejandro Villanueva鈥檚 first career start came in Week 7 last year against Kansas City. In that game, Villaneuva was burned for a sack in a Steelers鈥� loss. Tomlin said his left tackle has put that game behind him and has gone on to play well in his 15 starts since. 鈥淗e鈥檚 gone through the natural maturation process that guys go through that are critical components to our play,鈥� Tomlin said.
n Tomlin admitted he may have abandoned the running game too quickly against the Eagles, but when Philadelphia took a 17-point lead two minutes into the second half on Darren Sproles鈥� 73-yard reception, that game plan went out the window.
n With Bell coming off the reserve/suspended list, the Steelers have until 4 p.m. Thursday to make a roster move.
THIS AND THAT
The Steelers can expect much of the same from Kansas City that they saw in Philadelphia last week, meaning a lot of screens and misdirection. Chiefs QB Alex Smith was coached the previous three seasons by Doug Pederson, now the Eagles鈥� head coach. Pederson is a disciple of Andy Reid, who coached with Mike Holmgren, who coached with Bill Walsh, the architect of the modern West Coast offense. Tomin said Smith鈥檚 mobility is underrated and he could have his best weapon, RB Jamaal Charles, available this week. Charles is coming off an ACL tear suffered in Week 5 last season. 鈥� The Chiefs use two- and three-tight end sets, led by Travis Kelce, who Tomlin called 鈥渙ne of the emerging young stars in our game.鈥� 鈥� The Steelers鈥� offense won鈥檛 have to contend with LB Justin Houston, but the Chiefs still have LB Tamba Hali. And they also have CB Marcus Peters, the 18th pick last year. Peters has emerged as the best young corner in the league. He had two picks in last week鈥檚 win over the Jets and has eight INTs in his last eight games.
MORE INJURY UPDATES
n LB Lawrence Timmons, who suffered a puncture wound to his shin, should be able to play Sunday vs. Kansas City.
n C/G Cody Wallace (knee) and FB Roosevelt Nix (back) should practice this week, at which point a determination on their status will be made.
n Markus Wheaton (shoulder) played last week, albeit poorly with three drops, but Tomlin said that he鈥檚 waiting to see how his injury responds.
QUOTEWORTHY
鈥淲e got our butts kicked and we kicked our butts as well. Usually when a game unfolds in that matter in which that did, that is the case.鈥� 鈥� Tomlin, on last week鈥檚 34-3 loss to Philadelphia, the worst of his 10-year career.