Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Wide receiver Ben Skowronek is dealing with a toe injury, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith announced on Monday.
Skowronek was injured during the team’s joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, and was not dressed for Saturday’s preseason loss to the Bucs. Smith did not divulge the severity or extent of the injury. Skowronek was walking around during the game on Saturday, without obvious pain or discomfort.
“Ben has his toe or whatever is going on there,” Smith said. “I’m sure he can tell you about it. Ben had a big role for us last year and I thought he had a really good camp.”
Skowronek joined the Steelers last September after being cut by the Houston Texans, and became a key contributor on special teams, serving as the team’s staring punt gunner. He also carved out a role in the offense, mostly as a blocker and a receiver in bigger personnel groupings.
The 28-year-old Skowronek, who won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, finished the 2024 season with five catches for 69 yards, and also made seven tackles on special teams and recovered two fumbles. He returned to the Steelers this offseason on a two-year contract.
He’s the second Steelers wide receiver to be dealing with an injury as the preseason comes to a close. Calvin Austin III has been out for weeks with an abdominal injury, leaving the Steelers even more shorthanded than they already were entering the season at wide receiver.
With DK Metcalf also not participating in the first two preseason games, Roman Wilson, Scotty Miller and Brandon Johnson were in the starting lineup for the Steelers against the Buccaneers on Saturday.
While Skowronek has not officially been ruled out of the team’s preseason finale, the short week ahead of Thursday’s visit to the Carolina Panthers won’t provide much runway for players attempting to return from injury. The team has just two practices this week at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex before leaving for Carolina.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Injury Revealed for Versatile Steelers Wide Receiver
