The Pittsburgh Steelers can clinch the AFC North for the first time in five years, meaning playoff football will return to Acrisure Stadium with fans in full capacity since the 2017 season. As we do every week, let’s dive into your questions in this week’s mailbag.
Q: Is there an update on DeShon Elliott’s recovery? If he’s able to fully heal and return at 100%, how does that affect the makeup of the Steelers’ starting defensive backfield?
– SteelerSince73A: If there is, there hasn’t been one given.
It would be great to have Elliott return to the lineup, but Mike Tomlin has mentioned nothing of the sort. If he can return, I would assume Jalen Ramsey would play cornerback/nickel, while Elliott and Kyle Dugger would play safety.
Q: Assuming the Steelers are giving it their all this week, which of these sees the biggest effect of DJ Metcalf’s absence: Depth WRs getting more targets? TE group getting more targets? Less passing and more running plays? Other? Do the Browns score 10 points? The Steelers held the Browns to 9 points in the earlier meeting. Quinshon Judkins is on IR, David Njoku has missed the last two games and hasn’t practiced all week, and Harold Fannin suffered a groin injury in Friday’s practice, making him questionable. For an offense that uses its WRs even less than the Steelers, things look even more bleak than usual. (In the past 4 weeks, the Bears held them to 3 and the 49ers held them to 8.) – Blkgldtom
A: I’d expect the Steelers to run until they can’t on Sunday. The Browns let the Bills run for 164 yards in Week 16, and the Steelers totaled over 230 yards on the ground against the Detroit Lions. Maybe this gives more opportunities to Pat Freiermuth in the passing game. If I had to pick a score, I’d say something along the lines of 20-9.
Q: What are your thoughts on talking Aaron into one more year? – RenoSteelersFan
A: I’m all for Aaron coming back for another year. But I’d still want them to take a quarterback to sit and learn for a season, similar to what Green Bay did with Jordan Love.
Q: When will we know the schedule for week 18? – steelwoman
A: After Week 17. The NFL likes to have the game with the highest stakes be the Sunday Night Game. I’d expect Buccaneers vs. Panthers to be the last game of the regular season with the NFC South on the line.
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