Wherever the Steelers are heading in 2020, they'll have to get there without Devin Bush.
The team's dynamic starting inside linebacker tore the ACL in his left knee late in the first half of the Steelers' 38-7 victory over the Browns at Heinz Field, and he'll be out for the rest of the season, per multiple sources following the game.
The only official word, from Mike Tomlin, was that Bush "appears to have a significant knee injury." The team issued no other statement or update.
The players seemed to grasp the severity right away.
Ben Roethlisberger opened his postgame press call by offering "thoughts and prayers" to Bush, adding, "It makes you sick when a skilled player gets hurt and has to go through something like that."
And this from fellow linebacker Bud Dupree: "Devin is a great player, a high-effort guy. He’s one of the most athletic guys on the team and one of the fastest guys on the team. Anytime you lose a guy like that, it's a big blow. Prayers up to Devin as he goes through this recovery."
And an hour later, this from Ryan Shazier, his mentor in 2019:
Devin you got this bro 😎🙏🏽🙏🏽 prayers up. Love you lil bro
— Ryan Shazier (@RyanShazier) October 18, 2020
With 2:32 remaining, Bush's coverage on a Cleveland incompletion saw him go down without contact, rolling over his knee or ankle beyond the visitors' sideline. He stayed down while being checked for nearly two minutes, punching the ground with his right fist in visible frustration several times. He was then helped off, examined briefly in the Pittsburgh tent, then walked off under his own power to the tunnel.
It all felt as sudden as it was silent.
This was the sequence on which Bush was hurt:
Bush, 22, was the Steelers' first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, 10th overall. Through five games of his second season, he has 26 tackles, a sack and three passes defensed. Half of that sack total came in this game, when he and Stephon Tuitt shared one in the first quarter.
Robert Spillane took Bush's place in this game. If Bush is out longer, the most likely replacement will be Ulysees Gilbert, who had a strong training camp but was inactive on this day.
Spillane, 24, was promoted from the practice squad during the 2019 season and has found a home as a special teams ace. He went undrafted in 2018 out of Western Michigan. In his first linebacker action for the Steelers on this day, he registered four tackles, including this bone-crusher for a 6-yard loss:
I asked Tomlin about his confidence in the depth at the position.
"Spillane more than answered the bell," Tomlin replied. "But we have a great deal of confidence in him. He's a capable guy. Guys who make plays on special teams, that's usually a precursor to them making plays on defense. Since we brought him up in the middle of last year, he's been a consistent performer for us. I don't think any of us are surprised by the quality of play from him."
He then made clear that isn't a done deal.
"If Devin does have to be down for a while, [players] will be called to step up. He will be among them. Gilbert will be among them. Marcus Allen will be among them. We'll put together a formula that'll allow us to function in the interim. Believe it."
Why the hesitation?
In all likelihood, it's that Gilbert has been inactive for most games due to not cracking the special teams. But he also has a skill set that's closer to that of Bush, which might make for a smoother transition.
Gilbert, 23, was one of the Steelers' three sixth-round picks in the 2019 draft, out of Akron. He appeared in seven games last season, recording five special teams tackles, before going on Injured Reserve. This season, he's appeared in one game, recording one special teams tackle.
Allen, 27, was one of the Steelers' two fifth-round picks in the 2018 draft. He's appeared in seven games over three seasons, almost entirely on special teams.
Mike Hilton (shoulder) and Maurkice Pouncey (foot) also exited early, both in the second half. Hilton was lost in the third quarter, though it wasn't immediately clear how he was hurt. Pouncey left injured for a second consecutive week, this time in the fourth quarter after a Cleveland player rolled up on his ankle. His previous injury was to the foot, and it's unclear if they're related.
Tomlin had no additional information on either.
The Steelers' injured players among their five inactives Sunday were wide receiver Diontae Johnson (back) and right guard David DeCastro (abdominal strain). Johnson's place at wide receiver was taken by James Washington, DeCastro's place at right guard by rookie Kevin Dotson. The other inactives were quarterback Josh Dobbs, defensive lineman Carlos Davis, tight end Zach Gentry and Gilbert. Wide receiver Deon Cain made his season debut.
The Browns' inactives were both of their starting safeties, Ronnie Harrison (concussion) and Karl Joseph (hamstring), guard Wyatt Teller (calf), linebacker Jacob Phillips (knee) and defensive ends Joe Jackson and Vincent Taylor.