What is a defense to do when you’re missing some of your standout players? For the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, the answer was not enough—or, perhaps, too much of the usual, to hear head coach Mike Tomlin tell it.
With T.J. Watt missing due to hip and knee injuries, Joe Haden sidelined with a toe injury, and Minkah Fitzpatrick out on the Reserve/COVID-19 List, this defense was undermanned. That’s without even factoring in the absences of four defensive linemen, including Stephon Tuitt and Tyson Alualu, a pair of starters who have been out all or most of the season.