Less than 24 hours after the Steelers defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 20-17, Mike Tomlin didn't have more insight into how long cornerback Joe Haden might be out of the lineup after suffering a fracture to the fibula in his right leg.
In fact, Tomlin really had nothing new to report other than Haden won't be available when the Steelers (7-2) host the Tennessee Titans (6-3) Thursday night at Heinz Field. Nor will the Steelers place Haden on injured reserve, which would leave him out at least eight weeks.
"It could be less than it might be, or could be more than we think," Tomlin said. "The reality says he is not playing this week. We will leave him available to us in the short term until we get a better sense of what the prognosis is. Obviously if there is a chance for him to participate with our team this year, we’ll leave that light on. Really, we know he’s not playing this week as I stand here, so our energy is not on those that are not playing, it’s on those that are."
Haden told teammate Artie Burns that he could be back in as little as three weeks an reiterated it shouldn't be long on social media Monday.
I️ want 2 Thank everyone for your thoughts and prayers! God doesn’t make mistakes. Ima b back soon!! Got a championship 2 WIN! #stairwayto7
— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) November 13, 2017
Whether that is just wishful thinking on the part of the veteran cornerback remains to be seen.
But Tomlin is confident that veteran Coty Sensabaugh, who filled in Sunday after Haden was injured in the second quarter, will be up to the task.
"We’ll do a great job of rallying around Coty (Sensabaugh) and helping him prepare and look forward to him doing the job," Tomlin said. "We’ll expect Coty to play well. We’ll help him in preparation, and he will. Hopefully Joe’s injury will be less of an issue the more that Coty plays. Hopefully he’ll have an opportunity to come back and be a positive contributor to our efforts in the ways that he has been."
The Steelers will miss Haden's steady veteran play in the secondary, regardless of how well Sensabaugh plays.
Signed by the Steelers after being released by Cleveland prior to the final preseason game, Haden immediately fit into the locker room as a leader. A former Pro Bowl cornerback, he commanded respect both on and off the field.
He's helped the Steelers rise to second in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 182 yards per game. They were 16th last season.
But their two worst performances against the pass have come in their past two games. The Steelers had not allowed an opposing quarterback to post a passer rating above 88.6 until allowing Detroit's Matthew Stafford to throw for 423 yards -- and no touchdowns -- in a 20-15 win three weeks ago, while Indianapolis' Jacoby Brissett threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Stafford had a passer rating of 91.2, while Brissett posted a rating of 99.7.
Brissett also completed touchdown passes of 60 and 61 yards, the two longest pass plays against the defense this season.
"We gave up two significant plays and that can’t happen," Tomlin acknowledged. "Those field-flipping game-changing plays, those two touchdowns that they had."
Sensabaugh has started 29 career games, most of them coming in 2015 with Tennessee and last season with the Rams and Giants.
He hadn't played a defensive snap this season until Haden was injured, playing only on special teams. Now, he'll be counted on to hold things down until Haden returns, if or when that happens.
And Haden is unlikely to be the only starter the Steelers will be missing in their secondary.
Free safety Mike Mitchell also left against the Colts with an ankle injury and is unlikely to be ready to play against the Titans. He was replaced by Robert Golden.
"We’ll see as the week goes on," Tomlin said while adding there is not a lot of practice week with which to work. "Obviously, there is not a lot of physical participation to measure but he has a chance and we’ll leave the light on for him. Same with (tight end) Vance McDonald."
The team did have to issue a practice report for Monday even though it did not technically practice. Haden and Mitchell were the only players listed as non-participants.
McDonald, who returned to play against the Colts after suffering an ankle injury, was in a walking boot after the game but was listed as limited. He was joined on the list as limited by Ben Roethlisberger, William Gay, Ramon Foster and Darrius Heyward-Bey.
James Harrison, who missed the game against the Colts with a back injury, also was listed as limited.