The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without cornerback Joey Porter Jr. for their Week 17 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, set to take place on Christmas Day.
The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo shared the news on December 24, detailing the team’s final injury designations.
“[Wide receiver] George Pickens has no injury designation and is poised to return after missing three games,” reported DeFabo. “[Safety] DeShon Elliott, [cornerback] Donte Jackson, and [defensive lineman] Larry Ogunjobi will [also] be back” on defense, he added.
On the downside, starting cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and wide receiver/special teamer Ben Skowronek have been ruled out.
Meanwhile, backup quarterback Justin Fields is officially listed as “questionable.”
Steelers Final Injury Designations Go as Expected vs. Chiefs
For those following the Steelers’ earlier injury updates, the final designations come as no surprise.
Pickens, Elliott, Jackson, and Ogunjobi all practiced fully on December 23, setting the stage for their returns barring any setbacks. Now, their participation has been confirmed.
Conversely, Porter and Skowronek did not practice on Monday. The Steelers were transparent about Porter’s status, indicating that the star cornerback was unlikely to be available.
Fields remains a question mark. The backup quarterback injured his abdomen during a Week 15 slide and was unable to play last week, with Kyle Allen stepping in to back up Russell Wilson. A similar arrangement may be in place for the upcoming game, given the short turnaround from Saturday to Wednesday.
Chiefs Could Be Without Chris Jones vs. Steelers
The Chiefs are also dealing with injury concerns, highlighted by the status of star defensive lineman Chris Jones.
Jones missed the first two practices of the week but managed a limited session on December 24. He is officially “questionable” with a calf strain.
Additionally, starting right tackle Jawaan Taylor is listed as questionable with a knee strain. Taylor participated in limited practices throughout the week and appears more likely to play than Jones.
Kansas City has ruled out starting nickelback Chamarri Conner (concussion) and veteran left tackle D.J. Humphries (hamstring). Both were declared out on Christmas Eve.
Humphries has been the Chiefs’ starting left tackle when healthy but has played just one game since joining the team. In his absence, starting left guard Joe Thuney has shifted to left tackle and performed admirably. Backup interior lineman Mike Caliendo has stepped in at left guard and held his own.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes remains on the mend from a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 15, though he was not listed on the injury report. While Mahomes is expected to start on Christmas Day, his mobility may still be impacted despite his efforts to recover quickly.
From a Steelers perspective, Taylor’s status is particularly significant as T.J. Watt typically rushes from that side. Watt, who is also just a week removed from an ankle sprain, could exploit a potentially weakened matchup if Taylor is limited or sidelined.
Jones’ availability is another key factor, and the absence of Conner could benefit Steelers slot players like Pat Freiermuth and Calvin Austin.
