The Pittsburgh Steelers have improved over the past couple weeks in part because of better health. But the Steelers could be without safety Miles Killebrew for a while.
Head coach Mike Tomlin called Killebrew’s injury “significant” while going through the team’s ailments Monday. The head coach also referred to the safety’s injury as “significant” immediately after Sunday’s matchup with the Cleveland Browns.
As a result, Tomlin already ruled out the safety for the team’s Week 7 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday.
Killebrew didn’t play a snap on defense in the first five games for the Steelers this season. But Killebrew is one of the best special teams players in the league.
In 2023, Killebrew made first-team All-Pro as a special teams ace. He also made the Pro Bowl for that role in 2023 and 2024.
Steelers’ Miles Killebrew Suffers ‘Significant’ Knee Injury
Killebrew sustained his knee injury in the second half against the Browns on Sunday. The ailment occurred while Killebrew was covering a punt.
If placed on injured reserve, the safety will miss at least four games. It sounds like that’s the minimal amount of time Killebrew might be out.
Tomlin has yet to offer further details on the seriousness of the safety’s injury. But based on the replay of the injury and Tomlin calling the ailment “significant,” it wouldn’t be surprising if Killebrew misses the rest of the season.
In five games this season, Killebrew has posted five combined tackles. He lined up for 64% of the team’s snaps on special teams.
Tomlin implied it will be difficult for the team to replace Killebrew, but the head coach also suggested they must have the “next man up” mentality.
“He’s our captain. But you guys know the moto that we live by. We can certainly hurt for him as a man and as a teammate and a brother and an individual,” Tomlin told reporters Monday. “But from a football perspective, another man’s fortunate is another man’s opportunity.
“We certainly have some capable people. There’s an expectation that others step up and fill in the gaps.”
Tomlin didn’t rule out multiple players needing to step up in different roles to replace Killebrew.
“We’re going to divide the labor up based on the skillset in a certain space,” Tomlin added. “One guy might be similar to him in punt team. Another guy might be similar to him in terms of what he does on the kickoff team. We’ll deal with those individually, per space.”
Killebrew Suffered Injury on ‘Poor’ Field at Acrisure Stadium
The field conditions at Acrisure Stadium in Week 6 were less than ideal. The middle of the field was particularly chewed up, especially by the end of the game.
It’s possible the field contributed to Killebrew’s injury.
Tomlin declined to go that far, telling reporters Monday he had “no idea” if the field played a role in the safety’s injury. But Tomlin called the field conditions “poor.”
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers referred to the field as “borderline unplayable.”
The field at Acrisure Stadium has been a topic of discussion for quite some time, especially locally in Pittsburgh. The Steelers played a famous mud game on Monday Night Football in 2007 against the Detroit Lions.
The field conditions were so bad in that contest, the two teams played the NFL’s first 3-0 affair in 14 years.
But the conditions at Acrisure Stadium have improved in more recent years. It should be better in the team’s next game as well.
ESPN’s Brooke Pryor reported Sunday evening the stadium was re-sodding the field after Week 6.
The Steelers have only played two games at Acrisure Stadium this season. But they had a home preseason contest in August, and the Pitt Panthers have already played four games at Acrisure this season.
Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders reported Monday that seven games is about the length of time a field with the type of grass Acrisure Stadium has will last.
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