Depth is critical for a reason, especially during an NFL season. It's going to be tested, no matter how much a team might think it has.
For the Steelers this season, one of the deepest positions of depth on the team heading into this season was the defensive line, as the team had five linemen with NFL experience. But over the past month, that depth has been tested sorely.
First, Chris Wormley, acquired by the Steelers from the Ravens for a fifth-round draft pick in the offseason, suffered a knee injury in a win at Tennessee Oct. 25. Then, the following week, starting nose tackle Tyson Alualu suffered a sprained knee, as well, just a handful of plays into a win at Baltimore.
Second-year pro Isaiah Buggs, who replaced Alualu, spent the next three weeks nursing an ankle injury that left him in and out of practice -- and games -- before Wormley and Alualu both returned.
The constants throughout all of that had been All-Pro Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, who has been having a Pro Bowl-type season.
Friday, however, the Steelers (10-0) learned they will be without both Tuitt and Buggs against the Ravens (6-4) in a game that has been moved to Tuesday after both, along with reserve offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, were placed on the Reserve/Covid List.
Now, once again that depth on the defensive line will be tested, and not just this week since all three players could be unavailable not only for the game against the Ravens, but in Week 13 against Washington, as well.
It's a good thing Alualu and Wormley came back when they did, as the team is now playing musical chairs with its defensive linemen.
"Tyson and Worm, both those guys are coming back, so that is going to help us in terms of our depth up front," Keith Butler said earlier this week.
Or so Butler thought.
The loss of Tuitt, in particular, hurts. He has 32 tackles and has already set a career high with seven sacks and 18 quarterback hits this season. His sack total is tied for fifth in the AFC.
"Stephon's having a great year," Heyward said recently. "He came in with the right mindset, not only in good physical condition, but also his mental aspect. I thought he grew a lot, understanding that the plays are going to come to him. He was always around the quarterback, always about to make the plays, but now you're seeing him finish plays. I'm happy for him, but he's got to continue to do it. We understand he's a great talent for our defense."
He's a talent the team will be without for the time being. And that means more snaps for others.
Fortunately for the Steelers, Alualu and Wormley are back. With those two out, Heyward and Tuitt saw their snaps increase about 10 percent each. Buggs picked up some of the slack, while Henry Mondeaux was elevated from the practice squad and rookie Carlos Davis, a seventh-round draft pick, saw his first NFL action.
Now, with Tuitt and Buggs out, that dynamic changes yet again, further testing that depth.
"Mondeaux played last year in the preseason, so we knew what he could do," Steelers defensive line coach Karl Dunbar said recently. "Davis was a little different because of being a college draft pick, first year guy, but we have to get him out there. We have to toot the horn and kick the tires, and I think just getting him out there is helping our team solidify some depth."
But it also hasn't been ideal for the team's run defense. The Steelers allowed 68.8 yards rushing per game in their first six games, then gave up 182.7 over the next three games, mostly without Alualu and Wormley available. That included a season-worst 265 yards on the ground to the Ravens in a 28-24 victory.
Last week, with Alualu and Wormley back -- putting everyone else back in the roles in which they played in the first six games -- the Steelers gave up 73 yards in a 27-3 win over the Jaguars.
But the Ravens -- even short-handed at running back with J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram sidelined due to COVID-19 -- and the Redskins will present a challenge to that run defense. Baltimore leads the NFL in rushing at 160.5 yards per game entering Week 12, while Washington rookie Antonio Gibson is second in the NFL with 11 rushing touchdowns.
Like he did last year when Tuitt missed the final 10 games of the season with a pectoral muscle injury, Alualu will be asked to do more. While the veteran will still man the nose tackle spot when the Steelers are in their base 3-4 defense, with Wormley at defensive end, that duo also will be tasked with lining up next to Heyward at defensive tackle in the team's nickel and dime looks.
But getting Alualu back is the key. The 11-year veteran had been having his best season before the knee injury sidelined him. He's made 19 tackles, a sack and three quarterback hits with four pass defenses. He was very good replacing Tuitt in 2019.
"He’s got a lot of talent, got a lot of ability," Butler said. "He’s big. He’s strong. He does a good job for us. He’s smart. He does well with his teammates. He fulfills that part of our defense that we need very, very much when we run the type of defense that we run."