Steelers Now
The Buffalo Bills will be without both of their starting offensive tackles in Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Left tackle Dion Dawkins and right tackle Spencer Brown both did not practice all week and were ruled out by head coach Sean McDermott on Friday.
Dawkins is in the concussion protocol, while Brown is dealing with a shoulder injury. Both injuries were sustained in the Bills’ Week 12 loss to the Houston Texans. Quarterback Josh Allen was sacked a career-high eight times in the loss.
Ryan Van Demark is expected to be the Bills’ starting left tackle on Sunday. Tylan Grable (questionable) or Alec Anderson will be the right tackle.
Starting linebacker Terrel Bernard (elbow) and wide receiver Curtis Samuel (elbow/knee) were also ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Brown could not finish the Houston game after suffering a shoulder injury. Dawkins was evaluated for a concussion early in the game against the Texans but then was cleared to return and he finished the game. He experienced symptoms the next day and was placed in the concussion protocol.
Dawkins and Brown being out bodes well for Steelers’ pass rushers T.J. Watt, Nick Herbig and Alex Highsmith. Highsmith missed the last two games with a pectoral injury, but he has no injury designation for Sunday.
Herbig had a favorable matchup against Chicago Bears third-string offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo last Sunday, but failed to capitalize. Overall, the defense mustered only one sack. The sack was a strip sack by Watt that was recovered by Herbig for a touchdown.
The Los Angeles Chargers were without both of their starting offensive tackles in Week 10, as well. The Steelers racked up five sacks but Pittsburgh lost, 25-10.
The Steelers had five players sit out of Wednesday’s practice due to injury — wide receiver DK Metcalf (ankle), quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left wrist), left tackle Broderick Jones (neck), defensive lineman Derrick Harmon (knee) and special teams/wide receiver ace Ben Skowronek (shoulder). Jones and Harmon have already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
Rodgers and Metcalf returned to practice on Thursday and Friday in full capacity and are good to go for Sunday’s game. Skowronek also has no injury designation.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Bills Will Be Without Several Key Starters vs. Steelers
