Three All-Pro Steelers dealt with injuries to some degree Sunday, but all that did was open the door for three rookies — and one young journeyman — to prove their mettle.
Top draft pick Chase Claypool’s four touchdowns were the No. 1 story of the day, with a bullet. But when second-year receiver Diontae Johnson left the game in the first half with a back injury, it wasn't just Claypool who helped spark the offense.
Ray-Ray McCloud, who wasn’t on anyone’s roster projection at the start of training camp — because he wasn't even on the roster — and barely made it there by the end of the abbreviated preseason, did nothing but make plays when given more opportunities in Johnson’s absence. A 5-foot-9, 190-pound sixth-round pick in 2018 who’s been dispatched by the Bills, Panthers and Bills again, McCloud popped up out of nowhere to rush for 63 yards on just two carries and add three receptions for 12 more yards. The highlight of his day was a 58-yard scamper he couldn’t quite take all the way home.
“We know what Ray-Ray brings to the return game; he's dynamic. Whenever the ball’s in his hands, something fun can happen,” said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, whose first target of the game went to the kick-return specialist. “I’m really proud of him because he takes the reps that he gets during the week on offense when he can get them.
“When you’re moving guys around all over the place, it’s never easy, so we ask Ray-Ray to do more, and I believe in him. We’ve put some stuff in for him, obviously, the reverses and some passes. His role will continue to grow because he’s worked hard, he’s earned it, and he deserves it.”
Beyond McCloud’s spark for the offense on a day he was the leading rusher, a couple other rookies had to be the next men up, too. Also on offense, fourth-round pick Kevin Dotson, who started Week 2 at right guard, was thrown into the lineup again when David DeCastro left with an abdominal injury and didn’t return.
“It’s a group effort,” Roethlisberger said. “From the coaches to the veteran players to [a young] player. You can coach them all you want and have veteran players around them, but they have to be the ones who go on the field and do it. Kevin Dotson coming in and stepping up, playing again today, we've got a lot of guys who are just believing in each other, and when someone stumbles, someone picks them up.”
On the other side of the ball, when T.J. Watt had to leave the game due to some “nicks and bruises,” as he put it, third-rounder Alex Highsmith was logging crunch-time snaps at outside linebacker. Highsmith didn't wreck the pocket the way Watt does, but he looked the part when the Steelers needed to turn to him.
“Alex always does a great job of filling in,” Watt said. “I think he’s gaining more confidence as he’s getting more reps, and I’m glad he’s in there to take reps when I can’t.”
Coach Mike Tomlin said Johnson and DeCastro are being evaluated, as is center Maurkice Pouncey, who left late with a foot injury.
Sanders breaks loose
It wasn't a victorious day for Woodland Hills High School product Miles Sanders, but the second-year starting running back for the Eagles was productive in his hometown. He scored two touchdowns in his fifth career game at Heinz Field, including a highlight reel-worthy 74-yard scamper that tied the score at 7-7 late in the first quarter.
The Steelers overloaded the strong side and sent a five-man blitz, but Sanders knifed through every level of the defense to provide a thrill for his family members in the stands.
“Teams are going to try to get us away from our blitz pressure because they understand we’re coming at quarterbacks on third down,” said inside linebacker Vince Williams. “That’s a great game plan by them. We’ve got to get him on the ground. Sanders just did a great job. I said at the beginning of the week he’s an exciting running back, and he showed it today.”
Other than that, Sanders was quiet. He finished with 80 rushing yards on 11 carries, plus two catches for 19 yards.
Edmunds times two
Steelers running back Trey Edmunds, who was promoted to the active roster on Saturday, made his 2020 debut against the Eagles. Edmunds, who spent the first four weeks of the season on the practice squad, filled the spot of Derek Watt, the ace special teams player and fullback.
Edmunds played in 15 games for the Steelers over the past two seasons, including 11 last season when he played mostly on special teams. He was used on offense here and there, including lining up as a blocker in a bunch formation to the left side that paved the way for Claypool’s second touchdown — a role that likely would have been filled by Derek Watt.
In addition to Watt, the Steelers also deactivated quarterback Josh Dobbs, tight end Zach Gentry, offensive lineman Derwin Gray, defensive lineman Carlos Davis and linebacker Marcus Allen. Watt and Allen were ruled out Friday when the Steelers released their final injury report of the week.
The Eagles again played without their top two receivers, DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery. They also deactivated quarterback Nate Sudfeld, running back Jason Huntley, tight end Hakeem Butler, defensive end Casey Toohill and cornerback Avonte Maddox, a former Pitt standout who missed his chance to play a regular-season game at his old stadium.
Ray Fittipaldo contributed. Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: October 11, 2020, 9:40 p.m.
