INDIANAPOLIS — The Steelers made it through the first half of their season without any major injuries.
They weren't so lucky in their ninth game.
Mike Tomlin announced after the 20-17 win over the Colts Sunday that cornerback Joe Haden is out indefinitely with a fractured fibula.
Additionally, safety Mike Mitchell, who was wearing a walking boot on his right foot, said it "is gonna be tough" for him to play against the Titans, and tight end Vance McDonald was also wearing a walking boot on his right foot.
"Joe Haden's got a fibula fracture," said Tomlin. "It's high on his leg. I don't know what that means. Mike Mitchell's got an ankle injury. A couple of other guys went down in-game but were able to come back, Vance McDonald with an ankle, Darrius Heyward-Bey with a toe. They both were able to come back. We'll assess it quickly. We're working with a short week. Those that limped out of the stadium probably don't have much of a chance (to play Thursday)."
There is some hope Haden, 28, can return sooner rather than later. In fact, fellow cornerback Artie Burns said he doesn't expect Haden to be out long.
"He’s definitely going to be back," Burns said. "I think they said it would be a few weeks or something like that."
The "they" to which Burns referred was the team training staff, but as Tomlin said, many of the injured players will be pushing things to play in the Steelers' next game, which comes Thursday night at Heinz Field against Tennessee.
Haden, who signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Steelers on Aug. 27 after he was released by the Browns, suffered the injury in the first quarter and was replaced by Coty Sensabaugh.
"It’s unfortunate, but in this game injuries happen," said Sensabaugh, who signed a two-year, $2.6-million contract to join the Steelers in the offseason. "You have to stay prepared, plant seeds and see what comes from it."
Sensabaugh is a former starter with Tennessee who signed a three-year, $19-million deal with the Rams before the 2016 season only to be released after playing just four games. He was quickly picked up by the Giants and became their starting slot corner.
“We’re only as strong as our weakest link," Mitchell said afterward. "We’re grateful to have someone like Coty in here. The only reason he wasn’t playing here was because there were other guys here ahead of him. That wasn’t a reflection on him. We know what he can do.”
Sensabaugh had been in the running for a starting spot opposite Burns in the preseason along with Ross Cockrell. But when the Steelers acquired Haden, they shipped Cockrell to the Giants for a conditional draft pick and Sensabaugh essentially became the team's fifth cornerback.
"Coming into the season, we were kind of confused with all the good DBs in the room," Burns said. "We didn’t know the roles of everybody. We’ve just got to be prepared for it and be ready.
"(Sensabaugh) was coming to work every day and proving a point because I’m sure he wanted to play. It’s an opportunity. He made a couple of plays out there today and we needed it."
Mitchell, meanwhile, left the Steelers' victory over the Lions prior to the bye week with an Achilles' tendon injury, but practiced this week and started against the Colts. He suffered a left ankle injury when he got tangled up with T.Y. Hilton on Jacoby Brissett's 61-yard touchdown pass to Chester Rogers in the third quarter.
Mitchell acknowledged "it'll be tough" to be ready for Tennessee.
As he did against the Lions, Robert Golden replaced Mitchell in the lineup.
"Coty came out and did his thing. Same thing with Rob G once Mike went down," said safety Sean Davis. "Rob G came through. Communication was great. We flowed well."
McDonald, acquired in a trade with the 49ers prior to the season opener, caught his first touchdown pass with the Steelers, a 7-yard reception to tie the score 17-17 in the fourth quarter, but left briefly in the second quarter with a left ankle injury suffered on a kickoff return when he got tangled up with James Conner.
He said he didn't think about the injury until after the game.
"I just went into a different mode. Scoring is just a different thing. I get so hyped," McDonald said. "When things kind of calmed down, I was like, ‘Dang, my ankle hurts.’"
McDonald missed the Steelers' victory over the Lions because of a bruised knee, but he returned to practice this week and surpassed Jesse James as the starting tight end.
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
