Nov 12, 2015 5 min read

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The Steelers have a lengthy injury list this week, one even longer than the one head coach Mike Tomlin spoke about at his press conference on Tuesday.

It’s one issue with Tomlin that is certainly different from Bill Cowher. Cowher would go down his injury list each week point by point, giving an exact accounting of his team’s health.

Often times with Tomlin, unless a player is specifically referenced in a question or left the game, Tomlin doesn’t offer up any information.

I get it in both situations. Cowher wanted to be transparent in those situations. He knew he had to put out a detailed injury report each week and sometimes, he would use it to his advantage, keeping the door open for a player he knew wasn’t going to play or talking about a player possibly being out that he felt was going to play.

Tomlin has taken a different tact. For example, he has been forthcoming with his information on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Three weeks ago when Roethlisberger was saying there was a chance he would play, Tomlin basically said that wasn’t going to happen. It has been the same this week.

But with other injuries, he’s played the cat-and-mouse game or not mentioned them at all.

Tuesday, Tomlin mentioned that Matt Spaeth and Terence Garvin wouldn’t play this week and Ryan Shazier, DeAngelo Williams and James Harrison would likely miss practice Wednesday with some soreness or swelling.

When Wednesday came, right tackle Marcus Gilbert, fullback Will Johnson and safety Shamarko Thomas weren’t practicing as well.

That doesn’t mean none of those guys will be playing Sunday against the Browns, but, at least in the case of Gilbert and Johnson, we’re talking about a couple of starters.

@ The foot soreness to Williams is troubling. He’s a 32-year-old running back that the Steelers can’t afford to run the wheels off of this season.

@ Cleveland has a plethora of injury issues of its own.

While quarterback Josh McCown is still banged up with a rib injury, the more important issues might be with corner Joe Haden and safety Donte Whitner.

Both are still sitting out while in concussion protocol. Each day they miss makes it more likely they won’t play this week.

@ Both teams have lengthy injury lists this week and both played the Cincinnati Bengals in the past two weeks. I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

The Bengals are a physical team.

@ Adam Shefter reported today that Roethlisberger is out of a walking boot but is still not expected to play this week.

This is news?

First of all, I never saw him in a walking boot this week. We can assume since he had an ankle sprain that maybe there was a boot.

But he certainly wasn’t wearing one Wednesday.

There also has never been a chance that he’d play this week.

@ The Steelers lead the NFL with 13 runs of 20 or more yards.

Asking around, I’ve gotten some interesting answers as two how that is happening.

Obviously, they have two good running backs. And obviously, the line is doing a good job of creating space.

But the receivers are getting a lot of credit as well, specifically Darrius Heyward-Bey for his downfield blocking and Antonio Brown for the way he makes the defense account for him down the field.

People have been asking why Heyward-Bey continues to get so much playing time. That’s the reason. He’s a tenacious blocker.

Heyward-Bey does all the little things, from working hard on special teams to blocking downfield. He’s also been a valuable receiver.

Not bad for a guy some people wanted to cut.

As he told me, people talk about the guys who make it as undrafted guys. He’s made a different kind of transition, from a guy who was highly drafted to one who is willing to do the dirty work.

I’m not sure what Heyward-Bey has done isn’t worth more respect than an undrafted guy who makes it.

It’s a tough thing to swallow your pride, roll your sleeves up and re-invent yourself.

@ Markus Wheaton also got some kudos for his downfield blocking.

@ There will be a big game played tonight in the AFC playoff race as Buffalo is at the Jets.

This is nearly an elimination game for Buffalo. At 4-4, the Bills would be in trouble if they dropped a fifth game at this point, especially looking at what they have left on their schedule.

The Jets, meanwhile, cane improve to 6-3 with a win and stay ahead of the Steelers for the first wildcard spot.

I like the Jets to win, 24-20, but wouldn’t be surprised if Rex Ryan has something up his sleeve in his return to New Jersey.