The Pittsburgh Steelers offense suffered yet another injury.
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday that receiver James Washington is expected to miss a few weeks with a shoulder injury suffered Sunday, per a source informed of the situation.
Washington, on the way toward his best game as a pro, exited Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens in the third quarter after injuring the shoulder. After the tilt, the second-year pro was seen in a sling.
Washington's injury is the latest blow to the Steelers offense, which has already seen Ben Roethlisberger, Jaylen Samuels and Mason Rudolph suffer injuries this season.
Rudolph, who is in concussion protocol stemming from a scary hit sustained against the Ravens on Sunday, was a limited participant on Wednesday. However, as Rapoport stressed, this does not mean he'll play this coming Sunday.
With Washington out the next few games, more attention will be paid to No. 1 wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster. Rookie Diontae Johnson figures to play a larger role, and Johnny Holton could see additional snaps replacing Washington as a deep threat. Slot wideout Ryan Switzer is also an option. Pittsburgh also might need to let Donte Moncrief out of the dog house after the veteran was benched earlier this season after a bout of drops.
Whether rookie quarterback Delvin Hodges or Rudolph (concussion) gets the start for Pittsburgh this week against the L.A. Chargers in prime time, missing Washington will only make things tougher.
Here are other injuries we're monitoring on Wednesday:
- Jason Pierre-Paul can begin practicing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this week, coach Bruce Arians told the media on Wednesday. Pierre-Paul is battling back from a neck injury that came to be due to a car collision in May in which he suffered a fractured vertebra.
Pierre-Paul chose to let the injury heal rather than go with surgery and a five-to-six month recovery was prognosticated, which put him at a return to the field in October or November, so he is on pace.
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (knee) did not practice on Wednesday.
- Chris Herndon's 2019 debut might have to wait another week. The New York Jets tight end injured his hamstring while running routes last Friday and will miss practice Wednesday, coach Adam Gase told reporters. Gase is not optimistic about Herndon's availability for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, per ESPN.com's Rich Cimini.
Herndon was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.
Linebacker C.J. Mosley (groin) is considered doubtful to play this week.
- The Kansas City Chiefs' defensive line took another hit has reserve defensive tackle Xavier Williams (ankle) has been placed on injured reserve, the team announced on Wednesday. The Chiefs also announced they signed defensive tackle Terrell McClain and guard Stefen Wisniewskiand that they waived guardRyan Hunter.
On the injury front, quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, while receiver Tyreek Hill (shoulder) was limited after not playing since Week 1. Among the Chiefs starters not practicing Wednesday were left tackle Eric Fisher (groin), defensive tackle Chris Jones (groin) and receiver Sammy Watkins (hamstring).
- Dallas Cowboys offensive linemen Tyron Smith and La'el Collins "at best" will be limited, coach Jason Garrett said during his Wednesday press conference.
Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch missed practice due to an illness but the belief is that he should be good to go for Sundays game vs. Jets, per the Dallas Morning News.
- Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (abdominal) will be at practice on Wednesday, but would be doing work off to the side and not participating in team drills, coach Doug Pederson told the media.
Along with Jackson, running back Corey Clement (shoulder), cornerback Ronald Darby (hamstring), defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan (foot), cornerback Avonte Maddox (concussion, neck), cornerback Orlando Scandrick (illness) and running back Darren Sproles (quadricep) did not practice.
- Detroit Lions defensive tackle Mike Daniels (foot) is out for Wednesday's practice, coach Matt Patricia announced, but tight end T.J. Hockenson will practice though he remains in concussion protocol.
- Cleveland Browns cornerbacks Denzel Ward (hamstring) and Greedy Williams (hamstrings) were each back at practice on Wednesday, according to the Akron Beacon Journal's Nate Ulrich. Offensive tackle Kendall Lamm (knee) was also back at practice.
- The Carolina Panthers had a welcomed sight as rookie pass-rushing standout Brian Burns (wrist) was a full participant, but a slew of others did not take the practice field. Included as those who sat out: running back Christian McCaffrey (back), defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (knee), quarterback Cam Newton (foot), safety Eric Reid (ankle) and linebacker Shaq Thompson.
- Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (back) did work on the side during practice on Wednesday. Receivers Christian Kirk (ankle) and Damiere Byrd (hamstring), who each missed Sunday's game, were back practicing.
- New England Patriots receiver Phillip Dorsett (hamstring) has been ruled out for Thursday night's game against the Giants. Wide receivers Josh Gordon (knee), Julian Edelman (chest), safety Patrick Chung (heel) and running back Rex Burkhead (foot) are questionable as all of them were limited in Wednesday practice.
- The Baltimore Ravens had a large number of players absent from Wednesday's practice, including: cornerback Jimmy Smith (knee), tight end Mark Andrews (shoulder) and wide receiver Marquise Brown (ankle). Safety Earl Thomas, cornerback Brandon Carr, guard Marshal Yanda and running back Mark Ingram also missed practice, but it was a non-injury designation.
- Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (hip) and cornerback Desmond Trufant (toe) did not practice Wednesday.
