Banged-up Steelers need to seek veteran free agents
It’s hard to feel bad for a bunch of grown men playing a child’s game and making millions of dollar per year to do it, but if there was a ever a team that deserved a little sympathy, it’s the Steelers. After last week’s disaster in Cleveland, they could potentially be without their starting running back, both starting wide receivers and their starting quarterback from the season opener.
After four-straight weeks of building a reputation as one of the feel-good stories of the league, especially after the endless drama of 2018, Pittsburgh just seemed to take another year’s worth of slaps to the face while facing the Browns. Now the team is left with a roster that has been gutted at the offensive skills position for what is supposed to be a gimme game against the Bengals.
Thankfully for the team and its fans, the defense appears to be on track for its long-awaited resurrection to prominence. Even with its own devastating injury to defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh is fourth in the NFL in sacks and third in turnovers. However, as the loss to the Browns showed, the Steeler D can’t be counted upon to make all the impact plays in a game every week. Not even the dominant Patriots can make that claim.
If Ben Roethlisberger was still under center, Pittsburgh could put practically anyone out there to catch passes and the offense would still be effective. Instead, Mason Rudolph, who has already been concussed and nearly beaten into unconsciousness with his own equipment, is being counted upon to keep the offensive boat afloat.
It just seems as though the team could have done a little better than replace JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson with the likes of Deon Cain on the 53-man roster. The Steelers also brought in former Pitt star Quadree Henderson and Amara Darboh to give them more options on the practice squad.
It’s a bit surprising to see signings like this when Terrelle Pryor is practically begging the team to sign him on his Twitter account. If nothing else, you bring in a big, strong, established player that is going to whip the fans into a frenzy. Speaking of physical specimens that would cause a reaction from the franchise’s supporters, Dez Bryant still wants to play in the NFL, as does Michael Crabtree, Kelvin Benjamin and Pierre Garcon.
While none of those players would have a chance of sticking with the team in the long term, they certainly bring a lot more potential for success than the likes of Cain, Henderson and Darboh. That elevated level of leadership and experience could also help accelerate the development of its young, but injured starters.
I’ve long been a big supporter of James Conner, and not just because this is his second-straight year on my fantasy football team, but that does play a role. However, with not one, but two injuries suffered this year, his long-term viability as an NFL running back looks to be seriously in doubt.
While his toughness, desire and dedication are some of his most admirable qualities, the flesh just doesn’t to seem be as willing as the spirit. I’ve often wondered if his cancer treatments could be contributing to these repeated injury issues, or if it’s just the reckless abandon with which he plays the game.
Pittsburgh addressed Conner’s latest boo boo by signing another less-than-well-known commodity in former Chicago Bear Kerrith Whyte. Wouldn’t you rather have a guy like Alfred Morris or C.J. Anderson picking up carries?
If all goes well, the Steelers can piece an offense together with duct tape and chicken wire and somehow get past the Bengals with an ugly victory before what will undoubtedly be an emotional rematch with Cleveland on the first of December. However, if the injured list doesn’t shrink significantly over the next two weeks, Pittsburgh would be doing itself a tremendous disservice if it doesn’t at least take a look at who is out waiting for a call.