After a bounce-back win in Week 3 against the New England Patriots, the Pittsburgh Steelers will try to keep up the momentum in Week 4, heading into what could be a difficult situation.
Along with the Steelers traveling overseas to take on the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland, on Sunday, head coach Mike Tomlin may be without some key players on the offensive side of the football.
With the team already set to be dealing with jet lag and playing in another country far from home, the last thing the Steelers need is not to be 100 percent on offense.
Steelers May be Without Some Key Players on Offense
According to Brooke Pryor of ESPN, running back Jaylen Warren and tight end Jonnu Smith were added to the team’s injury report on Thursday, which is not a good sign with the game only days away.
Perhaps the most costly loss for Tomlin and his team, if Warren’s ultimately ruled out for Sunday’s game in Ireland, would be his absence. The 26-year-old back has been arguably the team’s best offensive weapon over the course of the first three games of the season, making an impact on the ground as well as a receiver in the passing game.
Warren is the Steelers’ leading rusher and receiver. He has rushed for 132 yards on 43 carries, but has yet to make it into the end zone on the ground. Although averaging 3.1 yards per carry isn’t ideal, he has been a favorite target for superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers, catching 11 passes for a team-leading 142 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Smith, however, has caught team-leading 12 passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. Not having these two would definitely impact the team’s chances of playing at a high level on offense against the Vikings’ defense.
Steelers Face Overseas Challenge in Week 4
It’s challenging enough for teams to manage travel and injuries in the NFL on a weekly basis. Teams are never 100 percent healthy and always seem to be catching up on rest and recovery over the course of the season.
That said, the Steelers traveling overseas poses an unusual challenge, with jet lag and fatigue becoming a factor. Along with an unusual situation, Pittsburgh will be taking on a Vikings team coming off an impressive 48-point performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.
After three games, it remains uncertain what kind of team the Steelers will be this season and whether they can remain a force to be reckoned with in the AFC, keeping Tomlin’s streak of playoff appearances alive. Rodgers has had up-and-down performances while T.J. Watt and the defense haven’t lived up to expectations.