Future Steelers opponents hit with significant injuries in Week 2

The Steelers have been hit with the injury bug through the first two weeks of the regular season, with no less than five starters on defense missing time — or even the entire game — against the Seahawks in Week 2.

But Pittsburgh is far from the only NFL team dealing with health questions entering Week 3 and beyond.

Per a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers’ AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals will be without star quarterback Joe Burrow for “a minimum” of three months following a toe injury he suffered against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

Pittsburgh plays Cincinnati in Weeks 7 and 11, meaning the Bengals are all but guaranteed to be without Burrow for both matchups. In his stead, Cincinnati will be starting backup Jake Browning, who has a 4-3 record across seven career starts.

Also dealing with quarterback injury issues are the Minnesota Vikings. Starter J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury against the Falcons on Sunday Night Football and is expected to miss the team’s Week 3 game against the Bengals per head coach Kevin O’Connell.

And according to another Schefter report, McCarthy’s injury is expected to keep him out two to four weeks. The Vikings play the Steelers in Week 4, meaning Pittsburgh could very well be facing Carson Wentz in Ireland.

Also worth noting:

• Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed suffered a fractured collarbone in Week 2 and is expected to miss six to eight weeks per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Steelers play Green Bay in Week 8.
• Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson, coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, is expected to miss the entire regular season with a groin injury per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The Bears play the Steelers in Week 12.
• Vikings running back Aaron Jones is also expected to be out Week 3 with a hamstring injury, per O’Connell. It remains to be seen if it will be a multi-week absence or not.