The standard may be the standard and the next man might have to be up, but all the missing parts have taken a toll on the Steelers again this season.
Those catchy phrases Mike Tomlin introduced to his team long ago as a way to demonstrate that all players are capable to pick up where an injured player left off worked at times. But it’s not working so much anymore, particularly when the Steelers have an inordinate amount of players with injuries and/or suspensions.
Injuries killed their chances of advancing in the playoffs last season, as it did in 2011, and they may very well do so again.
“It’s part of the game, you can’t make excuses, because that’s our whole attitude, next man up,” linebacker Lawrence Timmons said. “Some things you just can’t control. You have to take it as it comes. Every dog has its day.”
The Steelers, though, have been dogged by injuries lately, the most recent defensive end Cam Heyward’s pectoral muscle pull that ended his season Sunday. Heyward missed two previous games, both losses, with a hamstring injury.
Veteran Ricardo Mathews, in his first season with the Steelers after signing as a free agent, replaced Heyward previously as the starter.
“We’re trying to rally the troops,” Mathews said, “use all our assets. That’s just going to create more opportunity for everybody.”
That is not how they prefer to do it. Often, the teams that reach the Super Bowl have something more going for them than talent — they are relatively healthy.
That’s not been the case for the Steelers. Linebacker Ryan Shazier, along with Heyward one of their better defensive players, missed four games with a knee injury that was initially hurt in the opener.
The defense took early injury blows that stymied its growth. Linebacker Bud Dupree, their first-round pick in 2015 who coach Joey Porter predicted could reach double-digit sacks, has not played because of abdominal surgery. He could be activated off injured reserve this week for the first time.
Cornerback Senquez Golson, their second-round pick in 2015, has missed both seasons with injuries. The Steelers were counting on him to play the slot corner this year. Cornerback Artie Burns, their No. 1 pick, missed most of the preseason with a thigh injury that slowed his rookie development. And because of the injury to Golson, rookie safety Sean Davis, their No. 2 pick, was pressed into playing the corner slot while also learning to play safety, slowing his progress there.
On offense, Ben Roethlisberger missed one start after meniscus knee surgery and played through his injury in the previous game, both losses. Bell missed those first two games. Tackle Marcus Gilbert missed three games with an ankle injury.
No position, though, has been wracked by injuries like their receivers. It began with their prized free-agent signing, tall and fleet tight end Ladarius Green. He had ankle surgery in January, then suffered sustained headaches and spent all of the preseason and first half of the regular season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. He played for the first time Sunday against Dallas.
Markus Wheaton, a starter the past two seasons, has played in just three games because of a shoulder injury. Sammie Coates exploded out of the gate with 19 catches for 421 yards in the first five games. On his way to having the finest game of his two-year career, he tore up his left hand, which required stitches and splints to broken fingers. He has caught one pass in the past four games for five yards.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, who took over as their deep threat, came down with a mid-foot sprain and is out indefinitely. Cobi Hamilton, who had been on their practice squad, might take over that job after catching six passes for an average of 18.5 yards the past four games.
And, lest we forget, Martavis Bryant is serving a one-year suspension.
“I just think once guys get on the field, get healthy, we’ll be better,” said Bell. “The more we’re together, obviously the better we’re going to play.
“But it’s always next man up in our system. We can’t have an excuse as to if a guy’s not playing, if this guy’s not playing the offense is not doing as good as it can or the defense is not doing as good as it can. We just got to put it all together. I don’t care who’s in there, we have to put it together and get the job done.”
Easily said, but, as the Steelers again are discovering, not so easily accomplished.
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com.
First Published: November 17, 2016, 5:00 a.m.
