JuJu Smith-Schuster's season is reportedly over. According to multiple reports, the wide receiver will undergo season-ending surgery in the coming days after sustaining a shoulder injury incurred in the second quarter of the Steelers' 27-19 victory over the Broncos at Heinz Field.
Smith-Schuster returned to the club this season on a one-year, $8-million deal after being unable to secure a long-term, big-money contract elsewhere. A member of the Steelers' receiving corps since 2017, he will be an unrestricted free agent again in the offseason. It's a tough blow for player and team.
He registered 15 catches for 129 yards and no touchdowns in four-plus games this season.
Smith-Schuster was hurt on an end-around where he'd initially appeared to have ample room, but Denver safety Kareem Jackson closed quickly and made hard contact with the right shoulder:
It was evident as soon as Smith-Schuster hit the ground that he was in exceptional pain.
Ben Roethlisberger brought up the issue on his own in his postgame press conference, saying, "We just feel for JuJu, and I’m asking everyone to pray for him."
Smith-Schuster had no catches at the time he was hurt, and six rushing yards on two carries. With James Washington also out because of a groin injury, that brought Cody White onto the field for three-receiver sets. White was targeted once, and it resulted in a downfield drop. But Chase Claypool caught five passes for 130 yards, Diontae Johnson two for 72 yards.
"We were getting a little thin there," Claypool said. "We had to step up."
Inside linebacker Devin Bush, author of one of the game's biggest plays, a 12-yard sack in the second quarter that forced a Denver field goal, injured his groin in the third quarter and didn't return.