The Steelers will hold star receiver Antonio Brown out of their regular season finale today at Heinz Field against the Bengals because of a knee issue that cropped up after the team's loss in New Orleans last week. Brown tested the knee in pre-game warmups but is unable to play.
Brown, who leads the NFL with a team-record 15 touchdown catches, was held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday by Mike Tomlin in the hope the soreness he was feeling in the knee would subside. When it did not, the Steelers sent Brown for an MRI Friday.
He'll be joined on the sideline by starting safety Sean Davis (quad) and Vince Williams (toe).
It wasn't all bad news, however. Running back James Conner is active for the game and will play for the first time since suffering an ankle injury a month ago in a loss to the Chargers.
Brown had been listed as questionable for the game against the Bengals (6-9). The Steelers (8-6-1) must win to have a chance to get into the playoffs. In addition to their own victory, Steelers also need a win by the Browns (7-7-1) in Baltimore (9-6) to lock up a playoff spot, though they also could win the AFC North with a tie and and a tie in the Cleveland-Baltimore game.
If that were to happen, Brown's status for a potential playoff game would be in question, as well. Brown will finish the season with 104 receptions -- his NFL-record sixth consecutive with 100 or more catches -- for 1,297 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns.
Brown caught 14 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns in the 31-28 loss to the Saints last week.
This will mark the third consecutive season Brown has missed at least the final game of regular season. In 2016, he was held out of the finale, along with several other key starters, because the Steelers had already locked up their playoff position. He missed the final two games of 2017 because of a calf injury but returned for the Steelers' playoff loss to Jacksonville.