Steelers put Tuitt, Banner, McFarland on IR taken on the South Side (Steelers)

KARL ROSER / STEELERS

Stephon Tuitt

The Steelers had been hopeful to have Stephon Tuitt ready to play in their opener Sept. 12 in Buffalo. That's not happening.

Nor will they have right tackle Zach Banner or running back Anthony McFarland available for at least three games. All three were placed on the Reserve/Injured List Wednesday, meaning they can't be brought back for at least three games.

To replace that trio on their 53-man roster, the Steelers re-signed offensive linemen Rashaad Coward and B.J. Finney and cornerback Arthur Maulet. All three had been released on Tuesday as the team made its cuts to the NFL limit.

Perhaps the worst-kept secret in Pittsburgh had been the fact Tuitt was dealing with something other than the death of his brother, Richard Bartlett III, in a hit-and-run incident in early June that has kept him sidelined throughout training camp and the preseason.

Wednesday, following the Steelers' final practice of the week before they begin full preparation next week for their regular season against the Bills, defensive coordinator Keith Butler said Tuitt's absence on the field, which stretches back into OTAs, had been for more reasons than the death of his brother.

"Probably a little bit of all three," Butler said when asked if it was mourning, an injury or being overweight that was holding Tuitt back.

"His knee is bothering him right now. I don't know how I'd handle my mom seeing my brother die like that. I'm not sure what to tell you other than his knee is bothering him a little bit and he's a little overweight and he's dealing with his mother.

"We hope to get him back and we will get him back."

The Steelers initially kept eight defensive linemen -- including Tuitt -- on their 53-man roster to start the season. But with Tuitt's move to IR, they now only have seven.

Tuitt was one of just three players in the AFC last season to reach double digits in sacks in 2020. Teammate T.J. Watt and Cleveland's Myles Garrett were the others.

With Tuitt unavailable, veteran Chris Wormley and Tyson Alualu get more snaps to open the season next to Cam Heyward, though the Steelers also kept Isaiah Buggs, Henry Mondeaux and Carlos Davis on their 53-man roster.

"Stefon, we were hoping he would be ready to go, but you never know with knees," Butler said. "I'm glad we got him and kept (Wormley). It gives our young guys a chance to develop a little bit more.

"There are options there, more options than there have been in the past."

The Steelers were able to slide Finney and Coward back onto their roster to help bolster their offensive line after they cleared waivers.

Banner has been recovering from a torn ACL suffered in last year's regular season opener. He participated in training camp early in the process and even played a couple of series in the team's third preseason game against the Lions, but apparently wasn't yet ready for the start of the season.

With Banner out of practice the past two weeks, the Steelers shifted rookie Dan Moore back to the left side of the line -- he had been practicing at right tackle -- and moved Chuks Okorafor to right tackle, where he started 15 games in 2020 after Banner was injured.

The additions of Finney and Coward give the Steelers nine healthy offensive linemen. Veteran Joe Haeg will be the top backup on the outside, while the Steelers will have two rookies -- Kendrick Green will start at center -- in the opening lineup at Buffalo.

The Steelers also initially had just four cornerbacks on their initial roster, but Maulet gives them a fifth. He had been nursing an ankle injury suffered against the Lions two weeks ago but apparently is now healthy enough to return.

He essentially replaces McFarland on the roster, at least for now. McFarland, a fourth-round pick in 2020, was one of four running backs kept on the initial roster. But that number now drops to three, with Kalen Ballage and Benny Snell backing rookie starter Najee Harris.

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