Steelers depth faces challenge

McDonald and Grimble hurt

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Steelers will have their depth at tight end tested with Vance McDonald and Xavier Grimble both dealing with injuries.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that McDonald has a hip issue while Grimble is in the concussion protocol. McDonald could be limited early in the week as the Steelers (7-3-1) prepare for a visit from the Los Angeles Chargers (8-3).

Grimble, the third-string tight end after McDonald and Jesse James, had a critical fumble at the goal line in a 24-17 loss at Denver on Sunday. Tomlin added linebacker Bud Dupree has a pectoral injury that could make his status uncertain.

Pittsburgh right tackle Marcus Gilbert could practice this week after missing the past five games with an ankle injury. Defensive end Stephon Tuitt could also return after missing two weeks because of an elbow injury.

Ben Roethlisberger called the interception that ended Pittsburgh’s six-game winning streak fluky.

On the surface, the Steelers quarterback is right.

The only reason Denver defensive lineman Shelby Harris found himself in position to make a leaping grab of Roethlisberger’s pass intended for Antonio Brown was because Harris was mashed off the line of scrimmage by Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey. Yet that didn’t stop Harris from improvising and getting his hands on the ball.

“I just never would have thought that guy would make that play,” Roethlisberger said.

That kind of play seems to pop up with regularity when things go awry for the AFC North leaders.

The Steelers (7-3-1) have turned the ball over 19 times through 11 games, including four in the baffling 24-17 loss to the Broncos.

Roethlisberger threw a pair of picks, James Conner fumbled deep in Denver territory and Grimble saw a sure touchdown vanish when he tried to run over Broncos safety Will Parks at the goal line. The ball squirted loose just before crossing the plane and six points vanished.

“We didn’t do a good job of taking care of the ball and we also didn’t do a good job of getting the football,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said.

That may be an even bigger issue for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has 12 takeaways and has only created multiple turnovers in the same game twice, the main reason why its minus-7 turnover differential is 26th in the league.

The Steelers had a chance to make a play immediately after Grimble’s fumble when Cam Heyward tipped Case Keenum’s pass high into the air. It fell harmlessly to the ground surrounded by a handful of Heyward’s teammates.

“We have to be more opportunistic,” Heyward said. “We have to keep preaching it, and maybe we have to spend some time with JUGS machine, all of us, just to make sure we are all aware of the significance of when [the quarterback] throws the ball.

“We got to be the aggressors instead of just letting it hit the ground.”

Getting pressure is not a problem. Pittsburgh sacked Keenum twice and he completed just 15 of 28 passes. Yet the Steelers couldn’t rattle him enough to make a major mistake.