It might be way too late for many, but the Steelers placed kicker Chris Boswell on the NFL's Injured Reserve list Friday, ending his season. The team signed Matt McCrane to replace him.
Boswell was not listed on the team's injury reports this week.
He has struggled through a rough season after earning a Pro Bowl trip in 2017, when he made 35 of his 38 field goal attempts, including four game winners. This season has been a complete reversal, however, as Boswell made just 13 of 20 field goal attempts and 43 of 48 PATs. His 12 misses this season are the most in the league.
"Bos experienced some discomfort on Sunday coming out of the game," Mike Tomlin said Friday. "His usual workday is Thursday. So we waited to the ramifications of that on Thursday. He was a full participant Thursday, but felt some discomfort after (practice). We felt it was necessary to make a move. We had worked Matt out a number of weeks ago. So it was a matter of a quick phone call and flying him in."
The Steelers initially brought McCrane and Kai Forbath in for tryouts three weeks ago after Boswell missed two field goals in a 24-21 loss at Oakland, including a potential game-tying attempt as time expired on which he slipped and fell. But Tomlin chose at that time to stick with Boswell. Forbath signed later that week with Jacksonville and has made 3 of 4 field goals and all four of his PATs.
Since the loss to Oakland, Boswell had made all four of his PATs and was 3 of 4 on field goal attempts.
McCrane originally signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Kansas State this year. During the preseason he was 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including hitting from 53 and 54 yards out. He also made all three of his PATs.
He has spent time with Oakland and Arizona this season, making 5 of 9 field goal attempts and all five of his PATs.
The Steelers (8-6-1) host the Bengals (6-9) Sunday needing a win and a loss by the Ravens (9-6) against the Browns (7-7-1) in Baltimore to win the AFC North and secure a playoff spot.