The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking to erase the sour taste of their crushing Week 2 defeat against the Patriots. Now, the red-hot Cincinnati Bengals will visit Pittsburgh for a Week 3 divisional showdown. Cincinnati has retooled its defense, which has performed at a high level through the first two weeks of the season.
Both teams would love to steal an early divisional win that could prove valuable later in the season. Cincinnati is looking to end its three-season playoff drought and return to Super Bowl contention. Both teams also have several injuries to monitor ahead of their Week 3 battle.
Here is the Final Week 3 injury report for Steelers-Bengals:
Steelers Injury Report
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Wednesday
DNP:
- RB Rico Dowdle (toe)
- CB Jalen Ramsey (NIR/rest)
- CB Jamel Dean (ankle)
- LB Cole Holcomb (NIR/personal)
LP:
- CB Joey Porter Jr. (NIR/conditioning)
- WR Michael Pittman Jr. (foot)
- RB Jaylen Warren (shoulder)
Thursday
DNP:
- RB Rico Dowdle (toe)
- LB Cole Holcomb (NIR/personal)
LP:
- WR Michael Pittman Jr. (foot)
- CB Joey Porter Jr. (NIR/conditioning)
- RB Jaylen Warren (shoulder)
- CB Jamel Dean (ankle)
- OG Gennings Dunker (knee)
Friday (Final)
DNP and OUT for Sunday:
- LG Gennings Dunker (knee)
- RB Rico Dowdle (toe)
LP and QUESTIONABLE for Sunday:
- WR Michael Pittman Jr. (foot)
- CB Joey Porter Jr. (NIR/conditioning)
- RB Jaylen Warren (shoulder)
- CB Jamel Dean (ankle)
FP and IN for Sunday:
- LB Cole Holcomb (personal)
Porter is again listed as questionable, but this week, the designation is NIR/conditioning. According to this report, there is no back injury to consider this week. Warren, Pittman, and Dean are also questionable and have a chance to play Sunday. Pittman and Dean are the two injuries to watch most closely. Warren will likely play based on his history with injury reports.
Dowdle is out, as is Dunker. Expect the Steelers to elevate Travis Homer or Lew Nichols from the practice squad to replace Dowdle. If Nichols is elevated, he will likely share the workload with Warren. If the Steelers elevate Homer, he will primarily contribute on special teams, which could open the door for Eli Heidenreich to see more offensive snaps.
Bengals Injury Report
Wednesday
DNP:
- DT Jonathan Allen (knee)
- DT B.J. Hill (Achilles)
- WR Andrei Iosivas (thumb)
Thursday
DNP:
- DT Jonathan Allen (knee)
- DT B.J. Hill (Achilles)
- WR Andrei Iosivas (thumb)
Friday (Final)
DNP and OUT for Sunday:
- WR Andrei Iosivas
DNP and DOUBTFUL for Sunday:
- DT B.J. Hill
FP and IN for Sunday:
- DT Jonathan Allen
Allen is in, while Iosivas is out. Hill will likely also miss Sunday.
