The Steelers are getting healthier in spots, but Ben Skowronek is still stuck on the sideline.
Pittsburgh ruled the veteran wide receiver and special teams standout out for Week 8 against the Cleveland Browns, extending his absence to a third straight game. Skowronek had returned to practice in a limited role during the team’s Week 8 prep, but that wasn’t enough to get him back into the lineup.
His absence matters most on special teams, where the Steelers have been trying to steady the whole operation. Chris Boswell had a rough early stretch before settling in, and Cameron Johnston has been dependable, but the rest of the units have not been nearly as consistent.
That’s where Skowronek’s value shows up. He made the Pro Bowl last season as a gunner on the punt team, and that kind of versatility is exactly what Pittsburgh is missing.
The Steelers have found another gunner in safety Robert Spears-Jennings, but with Brandin Echols and Doneiko Slaughter already ruled out for Week 8 because of injuries, the group still needs help. Skowronek’s return would give that phase of the game a much-needed lift.
In his place, Johnson is getting another chance to stick. This will be the third game he’s been elevated from the practice squad, and that comes with real consequences. After this, the Steelers will either have to release him or sign him to a one-year contract that guarantees him a spot on the active roster for the foreseeable future.
So far, Johnson has done little beyond special teams work. He hasn’t recorded a catch or made a play on offense in two games, though the Steelers do like his size and experience.
Aaron Rodgers is still looking for trustworthy depth at receiver, and Johnson is one of the players getting a shot along with Brandon Smith. Smith caught his first two NFL passes in Week 7, giving Pittsburgh at least one unexpected offensive spark. Johnson, though, has barely been on the field on offense, logging just 11 offensive snaps over the past two weeks, according to Pro Football Reference.
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