The Steelers feel good about the potential for placekicker Chris Boswell to make it through concussion protocols in time to be cleared to play in their next game, Monday night against the Bears at Heinz Field.
But if he isn't cleared, the Steelers made a move to cover themselves, signing veteran placekicker Josh Lambo to their practice squad on Tuesday.
Boswell was injured in Sunday's 15-10 victory over the Browns at the end of the first half on a fake field goal attempt. After taking a direct snap, Boswell rolled to his right, looking for tight ends Zach Gentry or Pat Freiermuth in the end zone. Both were covered and Boswell threw the ball away out of the end zone.
Moments after he released the ball, Cleveland defensive tackle Jordan Elliott hit him, with Elliott's helmet apparently getting up under Boswell's chin. No penalty for roughing the pass was called, and referee Shaun Hochuli said via a pool report after the game officials didn't believe the hit warranted a penalty.
Tomlin refused to comment on whether there was helmet-to-helmet contact.
"I'm not getting into that. I know that Hochuli spoke about it or gave a statement about it after the game," Tomlin said. "No color needs to be added from me. It's in the rearview. We're moving on to the next one."
Whether they'll have Boswell available for that one or not remains to be seen. The most accurate kicker in team history, Boswell has made 12 of his 13 field goal attempts this season, along with all 12 of his PATs. For his career, he's made 88.3 percent of his field goal attempts and has been at 90 percent or better in five of his seven seasons in the league -- at of which have come with the Steelers.
Lambo is in his seventh NFL season, as well, and has made 87.1 percent of his career kicks. He spent his first two seasons with the Chargers before spending the next five seasons, including part of this one, with the Jaguars.
But Lambo was released by the Jaguars three games into this season after missing all three of his field goal attempts. All three, however, have been long kicks, with two coming from beyond 50 yards and the other being outside of 40.
Tomlin, however, feels with the Steelers not playing until Monday night that Boswell will have enough time to clear concussion protocols.
"There’s nothing that alarms us in terms of the process that he is in, but it is a process," Tomlin said. "We’ll let those guys do what it is they do. Obviously, if Bos is cleared, he’ll be our kicker on Monday night."
With Boswell out for the entire second half against the Browns, the Steelers eschewed any field goals or PATs. Punter Pressley Harvin handled kickoff duties.
"We have an emergency kicker and (Harvin) is a component of that," Tomlin said. "We have an emergency snapper. Ben (Roethlisberger) is the emergency holder. Sometimes you get in those circumstances, just because you have somebody identified doesn't mean that you're comfortable, or doesn't mean that they're varsity (level). It's someone who occupies the position. You still have to make the decision if that's the most prudent thing to do. A number of years ago, I had James Harrison identified as the backup snapper. I knew James wouldn't leave it short. And he didn't. He snapped the ball over the punter's head for a safety. You think about moments such as that when you're in those unusual circumstances, and it's a component of decision making, no doubt."
