The Pittsburgh Steelers will look to end their two-game skid in a matchup with the struggling Las Vegas Raiders. To start the week, the Steelers injury report looked like nothing but bad news. While they enter the game far from full strength, Pittsburgh got healthier as their week of practice progressed.
Perhaps more importantly, the Raiders are decimated by injuries ahead of the game. It didn’t seem possible after their injury-riddled game with the Dallas Cowboys, but Pittsburgh enters their Week 6 contest with Las Vegas as the healthier team.
Steelers Injury Report Holds Good News in Matchup With Raiders
Raiders Missing Top Performers
While the quantity of players on the Raiders injury report isn’t extraordinary, the quality of who is hurt is disastrous for them. Davante Adams, the Raiders top wide receiver who has not played since Week 3, will miss another game with his hamstring injury. Adams, who has requested a trade from Las Vegas (and could end up in Pittsburgh), would have provided a trustworthy receiving option for Aidan O’Connell, who is replacing Gardner Minshew as the Raiders starting quarterback.
Since Adams has been injured, Jakobi Meyers has stepped up and been the Raiders most productive wide receiver by a longshot. He was originally listed as questionable on the final injury report, but has since been downgraded to doubtful. Assuming Meyers does not play, O’Connell will only have Brock Bowers to throw to of the Raiders top weapons. Bowers is an all-world talent, but Pittsburgh will send extra attention his way with no major threats at receiver for Las Vegas.
With two starting linemen and a running back also questionable, the Raiders offense enters this game in bad shape. The opportunity is there for the Steelers highly-touted defense to get back on track after back-to-back letdowns.
Steelers Injury Report Gets Better
While the Steelers injury report is far from ideal, they got some good news when running back Jaylen Warren had his questionable tag removed. Mike Tomlin described Warren as doubtful for the game to start the week, so his turnaround has been a pleasant surprise for a Steelers offense that could use a boost. Pittsburgh’s running game is at its best when Warren and Najee Harris are able to complement each other like they do so well. Warren’s presence will especially be appreciated in the passing game, both as a receiving option and in pass protection.
The Steelers also avoided a scare later in the week, when tight end Pat Freiermuth popped up limited on Thursday’s injury report with a calf injury. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice and has no injury designation for the game. Freiermuth has scored touchdowns in each of Pittsburgh’s last two games and has been one of their few consistent performers on offense this year.
Not All Good News for Pittsburgh
Unfortunately, the Steelers injury report never got any better with regards to their pass rush. Both Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig will miss the game. A small silver lining was Highsmith’s limited participation at practice both Thursday and Friday; he seems on track to return next week. The hits kept coming when Demarvin Leal, who has been a productive depth piece behind Highsmith and Herbig, was placed on IR with a neck injury and will be out for the season.
So, while they enter the game healthier than the Raiders, the Steelers would prefer to be much healthier than they are. However, against a Las Vegas offense missing their top two wide receivers, Pittsburgh’s defense has no excuse to underperform. They still have T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Those three always hold the keys to victory for the Steelers, and Week 6 is no different.
Main Photo: Ron Chenoy – USA Today Sports
