Solutions suddenly need to come in a rapid manner for an ailing Steelers defensive line, especially with its heart and soul about to miss a significant amount of time.
The new issue for the Steelers, among the many compounded in Sunday's 30-7 blowout to the 49ers, is the development surrounding an injury to Cam Heyward. The defense's captain left the game just prior to halftime with a groin injury and, according to a report Monday afternoon, is expected to result in surgery which would sideline him for eight weeks. He would go on injured reserve as a result.
"I mean, he's a captain; he's a captain for a reason," T.J. Watt said of Heyward after Sunday's game. "He's been a guy that's been able to make plays and be a spark for our defense for a long time. But, like I said earlier, the standard is the standard no matter who was in there. All of us were at training camp together getting repetitions with different groups, so we're all familiar with each other. If one guy goes down, no matter who it is, a guy like Cam might take more than just one guy to fill that role, but we need to stop the bleeding as soon as possible, and we weren't able to do that today."
Heyward was able to check back in for one play before having to slowly traipse back to the Steelers' sideline Sunday. He was ruled out for the rest of the game at halftime after playing just 14 snaps.
If the 49ers were able to blaze through for 188 rushing yards and 5.5 yards per carry Sunday at Acrisure Stadium, then what could Nick Chubb, Deshaun Watson, and a run-happy Browns team do to this same front in one week's time — Monday night — especially with Heyward sidelined?
Larry Ogunjobi has not been healthy since training camp, nursing a right foot injury. Though he was limited throughout last week's practices, he was still able to suit up and play 41 snaps (out of 68) Sunday, alongside Heyward and DeMarvin Leal. Ogunjobi's snap count was the highest for any Steelers interior lineman.
"All of those guys are high-caliber players," Alex Highsmith said after Sunday's game. "So it sucks not having them in, but we know that the standard is the standard. Whoever's in, we've just got to be able to play and be able to do our job. We're all we've got, so just got to get a lot better. This was not the ideal start for us, but there's a lot of ball [left]. We're going to bounce back."
Leal sustained a triceps injury and played just 25 snaps, despite being named a starter in place of Ogunjobi. Ogunjobi is trending up, which is the positive sign. Leal having to deal with a triceps injury could land him on injured reserve alongside Heyward, if it's significant enough, though no word of his status has yet been unveiled.
Armon Watts was a healthy scratch Sunday, but it would be a wise to predict that he will be active Monday, given Heyward's condition. Otherwise, the Steelers' depth at the interior defensive line is suddenly thin, and it will need all of the help it can muster with another threatening rushing attack next on the schedule.
One of Breiden Fehoko or Jonathan Marshall could be elevated from the practice squad. Fehoko would occupy the nose tackle spot while potentially prompting a Keeanu Benton move to defensive end, given Benton's speed, or Marshall could be elevated in a pinch to occupy his natural position on the end.
Benton earned an overall grade of 86.1 Sunday, according to Pro Football Focus, which was the second-best grade among Steelers defenders behind Watt's 94.4. Benton earned a pass-rush grade of 82.9 in 29 snaps. Ogunjobi's pass-rush grade was 74.2, third on the Steelers.
"We talked about that and talked to coach a little about that last night," Benton said in Monday's open locker-room session on the South Side. "Basically telling me I've got to grow up fast and be ready to go out there and play."
Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers' rushing attack were able to blow the Steelers up for yards in chunks, including McCaffrey's 65-yard touchdown run to break open a 27-7 49ers lead with 58 seconds off of the clock in the third quarter. McCaffrey pounded the Steelers for 152 yards and 6.9 yards per carry, while Brock Purdy was able to break containment three times for 20 yards, with a 17-yard scamper to help set up the final of Jake Moody's three field goals in the fourth quarter.
The Browns just pasted the Bengals, 24-3, Sunday, behind a 206-yard effort led by Chubb's 106 yards and 5.9 per carry. Watson added 45 yards on nine carries with a touchdown. The Browns netted 350 yards of offense and 4.9 per play on the Bengals; the 49ers tallied 391 and 5.9 per play on the Steelers.
"We can't just talk the talk; we've got to walk the walk," Highsmith said. "It starts (Monday with practice) and then next Monday night here at home."
