The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a tough spot heading into Week 9. Not only have they lost their past two games to the Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers, but their quest to get back on track in Week 9 will be quite difficult, thanks in large part to the fact that the team is set to square off against the 7-1 Indianapolis Colts.
With their lead atop the AFC North quickly shrinking, the Steelers need to get back in the win column, or they could find themselves in some serious trouble moving forward. As if beating the Colts wasn’t already going to be difficult enough, though, the team received some crushing news regarding linebacker Cole Holcomb and safety Chuck Clark‘s statuses for this game.
Steelers Rule Out Cole Holcomb, Chuck Clark for Week 9 Action
Just two weeks ago, the Steelers were in complete control of the AFC North division. With a 4-1 record, and the Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens all battling their own issues, it seemed like Pittsburgh had a clear path to winning the division. And yet, after a pair of losses, things have changed quite drastically for the team.
All season long, the Steelers have not looked good on the defensive side of the ball, which has put a ton of pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense. While that unit was able to get the job done in four of their first five games, they haven’t been able to overcome their defense’s shortcomings against either Cincinnati or Green Bay.
Slowing down Indianapolis in Week 9 is going to be a tall task, largely because it has featured a historically efficient offense through its first eight games. And now, Pittsburgh is going to be without Holcomb and Clark for this contest, as they both are dealing with illnesses that resulted in them being ruled out on Saturday morning.
“The Steelers have downgraded LB Cole Holcomb (illness) and S Chuck Clark (illness) to out for Sunday’s game vs. the Colts,” Ian Rapoport of NFL Network shared in a post on X.
Steelers Face Tall Task in Week 9 vs. Colts
GettyAfter being cut, safety Chuck Clark is reportedly returning to the Steelers.
Considering the caliber of the Colts’ defense, this obviously isn’t an ideal scenario for the Steelers. At safety, Clark’s absence will force Kyle Dugger, who was only acquired by the team in a trade with the New England Patriots a few days ago, into a starting role alongside Juan Thornhill. Holcomb’s absence, meanwhile, means that Payton Wilson will likely see an uptick in snaps at the inside linebacker spot.
If Pittsburgh wants any shot of winning this game, it is going to need its offense to go toe-to-toe with Indy. If T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith can create pressure on Daniel Jones on under center, that could give the team an opening to pull off a shocking upset victory. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday afternoon, but it’s looking like the Steelers’ quest to steal a win in this one is becoming increasingly difficult.
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