T.J. Watt and Diontae Johnson, among the Steelers' most pivotal players, also were among the injured in their 19-9 victory over the Lions in both teams' preseason finale on this Sunday evening at Acrisure Stadium.
Mike Tomlin downplayed both issues after the game as "minor," adding, "We don't expect that to be serious. Maybe they could've come back into the game had it been different circumstances. We'll monitor those guys and evaluate them and proceed from there."
It'll help, of course, that there are two full weeks until the regular-season opener Sept. 11 in Cincinnati.
Damontae Kazee, a backup at safety who'd become an increasingly important part of the defense, also left with an arm/wrist injury that's expected to require surgery and, thus, have him placed on the NFL's Injured Reserve list. Tomlin didn't downplay that one, saying, "Kazee's injury could be perceived as more serious. It makes his availability in the near future questionable."
Watt's left knee was hurt when he was cut on a block by Detroit tight end T.J. Hockenson in the second quarter. Watt bounced back up, went straight to the sideline, then returned for a later sequence before being tended by athletic trainer John Norwig and leaving for the locker room:
Johnson's left shoulder was hurt when he came down hard following a 38-yard catch down the left sideline from Mitch Trubisky in the first quarter. He, too, got up without issue, but was out immediately thereafter:
Kazee's injury was the most unusual, occurring in the third quarter on a harmless-looking tackle of the Lions' Justin Jackson:
Kazee made the play, obviously, but his left hand appeared to buckle under the weight of his body as he tumbled to the Detroit sideline.
The Steelers' next practice will be Tuesday, which is likely when more will be known.
No other players were known to have been hurt in this game.