A day after placing three players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Steelers learned that two members of the organization — one player and one assistant coach — tested positive for the virus.
Starting running back James Conner is the Steelers player who has tested positive and is awaiting another test Sunday to confirm, sources told the Post-Gazette, and the team placed him on the list Saturday afternoon. The Steelers canceled their practices Thursday and Friday and were not planning on practicing Saturday. They are still scheduled to practice Sunday and have their usual day-before walkthrough Monday, but of course, that could change as the team does the mandatory contact tracing — though Conner being the lone player headed to the reserve list at this time could indicate the rest of the locker room might remain in the clear for now.
The Steelers assistant who tested positive is special teams coach Danny Smith. Smith, 67, has coached that unit for the team since 2013. The team’s practice report for Saturday, an estimation required by the NFL, confirmed that Smith is out for Tuesday, as is quarterbacks coach Matt Canada; the reason given for both absences is listed as “illness.” Taking over for Smith will be assistant wide receivers coach Blaine Stewart.
Offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins and defensive linemen Stephon Tuitt and Isaiah Buggs were placed on the COVID list Friday, joining offensive guard Kevin Dotson, who has been there since Nov. 14 — all of which casts further doubt on the rescheduled matchup with the Ravens for Tuesday night at Heinz Field. Only two Steelers have been confirmed positive cases: running back Jaylen Samuels in training camp and tight end Vance McDonald earlier this month.
Conner is one of the more high-profile NFL players to test positive, especially given his comeback from Hodgkin’s lymphoma while playing at Pitt. Conner had said multiple times in the offseason that he did not consider opting out of this season given his medical history and that he no longer felt at-risk after his past bout with cancer.
Likely to miss a minimum of 10 days, that would mean Conner is out for both the Ravens game and the following week against Washington at home. Players who are categorized as close-contacts can return within five days if they continue to test negative.
The Steelers do not have to specify whether players are placed on the reserve list because of positive tests. They also must be placed on the list if they are deemed to have been in close contact with an infected individual.
Saturday’s estimated injury report also listed cornerback Joe Haden as questionable for Tuesday with a knee injury and running back Jaylen Samuels as out with a quadriceps injury that has kept him sidelined for two games now. Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had been dealing with a foot injury since Jacksonville, does not carry an injury designation.
Meanwhile, in Baltimore, the Ravens were forced to place six more players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, further whittling down a roster that has been decimated each day this week. The new Ravens on the list are offensive linemen D.J. Fluker and Will Holden; defensive lineman Broderick Washington; outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson; and defensive backs Tavon Young and Khalil Dorsey. Young and Dorsey were already on injured reserve.
Now with 20 players on the COVID list, 18 of whom landed there this week, the Ravens promoted veteran wide receiver Dez Bryant from their practice squad and signed veteran cornerback Pierre Desir to the practice squad. Some of the 20 could be cleared to be activated from the list in time for Tuesday, if the game remains on as scheduled.
Gerry Dulac contributed to this report. Brian Batko: bbatko@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrianBatko.
First Published: November 28, 2020, 6:07 p.m.