Steelers place WR Michael Pittman Jr. on injured reserve

The Pittsburgh Steelers placed wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on injured reserve Saturday, a move that will keep him out of action for at least four games. Pittman, the team’s top offseason acquisition, was sidelined by a foot injury and had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Injury Details and Timeline

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, coach Mike McCarthy described Pittman’s condition on Friday as a “multiple-weeks injury.” The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review noted that Pittman was seen using a knee scooter at the team’s practice facility to avoid putting weight on his injured left foot.

Under NFL rules, players placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games. This means Pittman will be unavailable for upcoming matchups against Tampa Bay, New Orleans, and Cleveland. The Post-Gazette reports that Pittman is not eligible to return until the Nov. 15 game in Cincinnati, which follows the team’s bye week.

This is not the first time Pittman has dealt with issues related to this foot. The Tribune-Review states that he missed the Week 2 loss at the New England Patriots due to an injury to the same foot. Additionally, the Post-Gazette notes that Pittman sustained a groin injury during training camp and did not appear in any of the three preseason games.

Performance and Roster Adjustments

Pittman was acquired by the Steelers in March through a trade with the Indianapolis Colts, swapping a sixth-round pick for a seventh-rounder. He subsequently signed a new three-year, $59 million contract. The Post-Gazette reports that in three games this season, Pittman has recorded seven catches for 89 yards.

In his absence, the Steelers have relied more heavily on receivers Roman Wilson and Germie Bernard, as well as tight end Darnell Washington, according to the Post-Gazette.

To fill roster gaps, the Steelers signed defensive back Doneiko Slaughter to the active roster from the practice squad. Both sources confirm that the team also elevated running back Lew Nichols and receiver Brandon Smith from the practice squad to the active/inactive roster for Sunday’s game against the Colts.

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Sources

• triblive.com: Steelers place WR Michael Pittman Jr. on injured reserve
• post-gazette.com: Steelers place Michael Pittman Jr. on injured reserve | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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