The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without one of their most important players Saturday night in Cincinnati.
The Steelers are expecting running back DeAngelo Williams to miss the team’s wild-card round matchup with the Bengals after suffering an ankle injury in Week 17, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Friday morning.
There was some hope Williams would be in the lineup, but apparently the injury was too much to overcome. Rapoport did point out, however, the Steelers are hopeful Williams would be able to return for the divisional round, should Pittsburgh advance with a win over the Bengals.
Of course, that’s going to be a little more difficult without Williams in the lineup. The 32-year-old back has done a terrific job in replacing Le’Veon Bell, who was lost earlier in the season with a knee injury. Williams has eclipsed 100 rushing yards in a game three times since Week 9 and finished the season with 907 yards and a league-leading 11 rushing touchdowns. He also was an effective pass catcher, hauling in 40 receptions for 367 yards.
The Steelers feature one of the NFL’s most potent passing offenses, which they should lean on in Williams’ absence. If Pittsburgh does try to establish the run, Fitzgerald Toussaint and Jordan Todman are expected to get carries.
Thumbnail photo via Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports Images
