A lot of people seem worried about how Duck Hodges is going to play on the road Sunday night against the Los Angeles Chargers. Count me among them. But I’m just as worried about how the team around Hodges is going to play. It doesn’t look like much of a team to me, in large part, because of injuries.
The Steelers have done their part to make this a horrible sports year in Pittsburgh. They take a much-deserved 1-4 record to Los Angeles. They also are banged up almost beyond recognition.
We should be used to that by now, right?
Go back to the Pirates season. I know you don’t want to torture yourself, but do it anyway. The team had significant injuries to Corey Dickerson, Gregory Polanco, Francisco Cervelli, Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams, Keone Kela and Nick Burdi, among many others. That doesn’t count Kyle Crick, who had surgery on his right index finger after a clubhouse fight with Felipe Vazquez. It also doesn’t count Lonnie Chisenhall, who may or may not be a ghost. No one has seen him for months.
The Penguins picked right up where the Pirates left off. Bryan Rust went on long-term injured reserve after taking a shot off his hand in the final preseason game. Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad will be out long term with lower-body injuries from the second regular-season game. Alex Galchenyuk went on injured reserve Wednesday with an undisclosed injury. That’s four of the team’s top nine forwards, including one — the great Malkin — who I was convinced was going to have a big bounce-back season.
But it could be worse, I suppose. Patric Hornqvist was able to play Thursday night against Anaheim after leaving the game Tuesday night against Winnipeg after taking a shot off his leg. And, somehow, Sidney Crosby didn’t break his foot after blocking a shot in the final preseason game. I’m almost shocked that didn’t happen the way the year has gone.
Ben Roethlisberger, anyone?
Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow injury in the second game was Pittsburgh’s worst injury, but it also was just the start of the Steelers’ problems. Mason Rudolph was concussed in the game last Sunday against Baltimore and won’t play against the Chargers, leaving Hodges — a fourth-stringer at training camp — in charge of the offense. Unfortunately for Hodges, he won’t have Jaylen Samuels (knee) or James Washington (shoulder) in his huddle. That means Benny Snell Jr. behind James Conner at running back and a more prominent role for Donte Moncrief at wide receiver. Good luck with that.
What is Duck supposed to do?
“Adversity is to be expected,” Conner said Thursday. “No one is going to feel sorry for us. The only way we can win games is with the people in this locker room.”
The challenge is clear, Conner said.
“Rally around [Hodges] and have his back. Make it easier for him.”
Not just the offense, but the improving defense, although that unit will be without Mark Barron (hamstring) and Steven Nelson (groin).
“It’s all on us,” Bud Dupree said. “We had to step it up another notch because Ben is the guy and [the offense] was passed down to Mason. Now, it may be passed down to Duck. We’ve got to continue to go.”
It’s a nice thought, anyway.
The Chargers have had more than their share of injuries. They aren’t going to feel sympathy for the Steelers, as Conner noted. Center Mike Pouncey went on injured reserve Wednesday, joining safety Adrian Phillips and cornerback Trevor Williams, who eventually was cut. Kicker Michael Badgley, safety Derwin James and left tackle Russell Okung haven’t played all season. Wide receivers Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin and Dontrelle Inman have missed time. So has edge rusher Melvin Ingram.
The 2-3 Chargers are a mess.
But I can’t get past the one advantage the Chargers have over the Steelers: They have Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Philip Rivers, the Steelers have Duck.
I know the Steelers said all the right things about Hodges this past week. I heard Randy Fichtner say Thursday, “He likes to throw the ball. I don’t think he’s ever met a pass he doesn’t like … He loves the game. It’s hard to kick him out of the building … He keeps his ears open and his mouth shut. I think that’s pretty good for a young quarterback’s ability to learn.”
I want to believe Duck is going to have a big night and get plenty of help from his friends.
But I can’t.
I’m afraid it’s going to be a long night Sunday night for the Steelers.
Ron Cook: rcook@post-gazette.com and Twitter@RonCookPG. Ron Cook can be heard on the “Cook and Joe” show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan.
First Published: October 12, 2019, 4:00 p.m.
Updated: October 12, 2019, 4:17 p.m.