EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Steelers entered their season opener Monday night relatively healthy. Only David DeCastro, who missed most of training camp with a knee issue, was held out of the 26-16 victory over the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
They sure didn't walk out of the place that way, losing James Conner (ankle), Zach Banner (knee) and Stefen Wisniewski (pectoral) to injuries, with none returning to action.
"Don't know the status of all of those guys," Mike Tomlin said after listing all three injuries. "We're working on a short week, obviously, so we'd better be able to close ranks."
Conner getting hurt is never a surprise, of course. This time, he lasted all of three series before a left ankle injury, apparently sustained on a Ben Roethlisberger incompletion early in the second quarter. To that stage, Conner was being used almost obsessively by Randy Fichtner, with six rushes and four passing targets, resulting in nine rushing yards and two catches for four yards. Benny Snell entered from there and instantly gave the offense a fresher -- never mind healthier -- look, finishing with 19 carries for 113 yards.
Banner hurt his right knee on the Steelers' third touchdown, midway through the fourth quarter. He initially got up quickly, helped Roethlisberger up, then crumpled forward to the ground in visible pain. He was helped off by two teammates, after which he could be seen in tears on the sideline bench before being carted off.
Wisniewski was hurt on the play just before that, his injury to a pectoral muscle.
The answer to Conner's injury is obvious: Snell. The answers if the two linemen are out for an extended period are almost as obvious. Banner narrowly beat out Chuks Okorafor for the starting right tackle job in the most prominent positional battle of training camp. Wisniewski was taking DeCastro's place, so DeCastro's return would now be even more welcome. There's been no recent word on DeCastro's status, though his injury's never been described as excessively serious.
Regardless, the Steelers almost certainly will have to add depth on the offensive line.
Inactives for the day, other than DeCastro, were Josh Dobbs, Anthony McFarland, Ulysees Gilbert, Carlos Davis and Zach Gentry. All are healthy.
