The Pittsburgh Steelers got things back on the right foot on Sunday with a 27-10 win over the Denver Broncos. However, it sounds like that victory is going to cost them.
It’s been a season of injuries for JuJu Smith-Schuster and he received another one early on the game. Late in the second quarter, the wideout went in motion and took a handoff from Ben Roethlisberger on an end-around. He ran right into Denver defender Kareen Jackson, shoulder-first, and paid for it. He left the game and didn’t return as plenty of people feared the worst.
The worst was confirmed on Monday, that Smith-Schuster was headed to the injured reserve list and will miss the rest of the season.
Steelers expected to put JuJu Smith-Schuster on injured reserve and are fearful he will miss rest of the season after injuring his shoulder vs Broncos, per sources.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) October 11, 2021
Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (shoulder) to miss the rest of the season. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/WpwHRzzCTH
— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2021
It’s a crushing loss for the Steelers, who are trying to right the ship on the season. It’s also crushing for him as he re-signed with the Steelers for one season in order to bolster his stats and try to cash in next year. That’s going to be pretty hard to do now. His season ends with 15 catches for 129 yards and one touchdown in five games. He’s been with the Steelers for four seasons and became the youngest player to reach 2,500 career receiving yards, making the Pro Bowl in 2018.
There were plenty of strong reactions about the injury and what it means for Smith-Schuster and the Steelers moving forward.
Wow. Yesterday might’ve been his last game ever in the black and gold. Love you @TeamJuJu get well soon. Juju embodies everything it means to be a steeler. If this is it I’ll miss u💔💔 pic.twitter.com/P6NOIyuttN
— Aidan (@DimeToDiontae) October 11, 2021
https://twitter.com/RenegadeAdam/status/1447545997056434182
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson on JuJu Smith-Schuster: “We’re going to go out there and play for JuJu no matter what his situation is."
And off the field, Johnson says: “Just try to be there for him, keep his spirits up.”
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 11, 2021
The Steelers will have to tweak their offensive plans quickly. They host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night at 8:20 p.m.
