PHILADELPHIA -- The Steelers left Lincoln Financial Stadium after a 35-13 beating at the hands of the undefeated Eagles, dropping their record to 2-6 heading into the bye week.
While Pittsburgh left the game relatively healthy, James Pierre was the only casualty on Sunday's injury report, adding yet another name to the long list of players in the secondary that have suffered injuries.
Pierre wasn't injured until just before the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter, going down with a foot injury after tackling Boston Scott on a 2-yard gain. Pierre was slow to get up, then needed some help from the training staff as he made his way to the sideline. Tomlin confirmed the injury after the game.
Pierre did not initially start the game. But, after Ahkello Witherspoon was beaten in coverage on two different touchdown passes to A.J. Brown, who scored three times in the first half, Pierre entered the game in place of Witherspoon as the starting cornerback on the left side. After catching five passes for 113 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, the Steelers limited Brown to one catch for 43 yards in the second half.
Sunday was Witherspoon's first game since suffering a hamstring injury in the Week 3 loss at Cleveland.
"I felt great," Witherspoon said after the game. "I'm very excited to play. I'm healthy. No excuses. Just didn't make the plays I needed to."
The Steelers are heading into their bye week, which gives Pierre and other members of the secondary time to heal up. Levi Wallace was inactive today while he nurses a shoulder injury he sustained in the loss at Miami in Week 7. Josh Jackson, who has turned in solid performances since being called up from the practice squad, also missed the game in Philadelphia with a groin injury.
Terrell Edmunds and Minkah Fitzpatrick have also missed games this season due to injury.
With Pierre trending in the right direction, the Steelers would love to have him in the lineup when they return from the bye in Week 10 for a matchup with the Saints at Acrisure Stadium.
