The Steelers returned to practice Wednesday for the first time following their Monday night win over the Giants at MetLife Stadium. And the injury report for practice was quite a lengthy one.
We already knew offensive tackle Zach Banner was out with a knee injury that will end his season. He announced on social media that he'll have surgery Friday. But he was hardly the only offensive lineman to not practice. Guards David DeCastro (knee) and Stefen Wisniewski (pectoral), also did not practice and were joined by offensive tackle Alejandro Villanueva (illness) and center Maurkice Pouncey (coach's decision).
DeCastro missed the opener with that knee injury and was replaced by Wisniewski, who left late in the game. The team remains hopeful DeCastro can return to play Sunday against the Broncos in the home opener, but he'll likely need to show he can practice Thursday before that happens.
If he can't play, the Steelers' offensive line would include Chuks Okorafor at right tackle and rookie Kevin Dotson at right guard against the Broncos.
Also sitting out practice Wednesday with injuries were wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) and Diontae Johnson (toe), defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt (Achilles' tendon), running back James Conner (ankle) and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (coach's decision).
Of that group, only Conner did not finish the team's 26-16 victory Monday night, leaving the game in the first half.
The Steelers have not yet officially placed Banner on injured reserve or added anyone to the roster to replace him. The team did add offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins off the practice squad of the Texans to replace Banner, who was placed on injured reserve.
Hawkins was a fourth-round pick of the Steelers in 2016 who was traded to the Buccaneers prior to the start of the 2019 season.
The Steelers did lose safety Curtis Riley off their practice squad. He was signed by the Cardinals.
The Broncos had plenty of absences at their practice, as well, Wednesday in Denver.
Vic Fangio, their head coach, announced that starting cornerback A.J. Bouye will be out "a couple of weeks," including Sunday in Pittsburgh. Also missing practice were former Steelers linebacker Mark Barron (hamstring), running back Phillip Lindsay (toe) and safety Kareem Jackson (coach's decision). Limited participants were wide receivers Tyrie Cleveland (hip) and Courtland Sutton (shoulder), tackle Garett Bolles (elbow) and safety Trey Marshall (hip).
Bouye is a big name for Denver's defense to be missing after losing Von Miller for the season. He was a former second team All-Pro cornerback in 2017 for the Jaguars when they beat the Steelers in the regular season and in the playoffs. But the biggest worry for the Broncos might be the status of Sutton. He's the team's No. 1 receiver and is needed to pair with rookie Jerry Jeudy to give second-year quarterback Drew Lock his full assortment of weapons.
Also worthy of watching is the starting left tackle Bolles. The Broncos already have a rookie starting center in Lloyd Cushenberry III, so if they're down a starter, it could be an advantage to the Steelers' defensive front.