Steelers Week 12 Injury Report: Cam Heyward & Aaron Rodgers QUESTIONABLE vs. Bears | Steelers News

Steelers Week 12 Injury Report: Cam Heyward & Aaron Rodgers QUESTIONABLE vs. Bears | Steelers News

Welcome in to Steelers Talk. I’m your host, Jack Sperry. Thank you guys for joining me here on Friday night to talk about the latest Steelers injury news and updates. The final Steelers injury report for week 12 for this week’s matchup between the Steelers and Bears came out this afternoon, and I’ve got some thoughts as to how the different injury designations could potentially impact this week’s matchup uh in the Windy City. So, make sure you guys click that subscribe button if you haven’t already. Uh, we also have two game previews uh on the channel up on the channel already. Uh, we have our in-depth preview where it’s just me and then I also have a joint preview with our Bears Now host Harrison Graham. So, I’ll put the link to both of those in the comments and description of today’s show if you guys want to check out those game previews. But, we got some pretty big updates today that I wanted to talk about. Uh, we’ll start with the Steelers injury report. Alex Heismith, the edge rusher, is going to be doubtful uh for Sunday’s game. He’s still dealing with a pec injury. He was able to be a limited participant in practice on Thursday and Friday this week. Uh but especially with Nick Herbig playing as well as he’s playing uh at edge rusher with Heismith out of the lineup, the team certainly doesn’t feel any rush to, you know, get Heismith out there if he’s not fully ready to come back and play like his normal self. Um you know, I would say, um if Alex Heismith isn’t 100%, Nick Herbig should be getting the start pretty much every single time. It looks like the Steelers probably agree with me on that. In terms of the guys that are questionable, Aaron Rogers is officially questionable to play on Sunday. Mike Tomlin with some of the things that he was saying after practice today. It kind of made it seem like, you know, he liked he he used phrases like, “I appreciated the effort that Rogers has put out on the practice field these last two days.” But Rogers was not able to be a full participant in any practice this week. He’s still wearing that brace. Um the way Tomlin kind of phrased it, it kind of made it seem like that there there’s a legitimate chance that he doesn’t play on Sunday. But with everybody on the ground like Mark Kaboli and um you know, Nick Farabah and all these guys are are saying that there’s like a 95% plus chance that Rogers is going to play on Sunday. So, you know, we’ll see what what ends up happening there. But knowing how important this game is for Rogers playing against a team in the Chicago Bears that obviously he has a very successful and very long history with, my guess is he’s going to do whatever it takes to get on that field on Sunday. And after uh practicing in a limited capacity these last two days, I would say uh the chances of him playing are pretty darn good. Also, Darius Slay is uh is going to be questionable uh this Sunday. He’s still in concussion protocol apparently and he is questionable to go by Sunday. So keep your eye on that if he’s going to be unable to go. Obviously James Pierre will uh retain his full-time starting spot on the outside. Then Cam Hayward kind of a name that has popped up here dealing with an ankle injury. He’s wearing a walking boot according to reports on the ground and according to a report from Nick Farab of Pen Live. Hayward is expected to play on Sunday. But I mean, what version of Cam Hayward are we getting if he’s had this if he’s going to be having this ankle injury? That’s going to be a big question mark heading into Sunday for the Steelers defense, especially because they’re going going up against a Bears rushing offense that has been the best in football probably over the last month. So, um, you know, hopefully Cam is is good enough to play like his normal self on Sunday because this run defense will certainly need it. than some guys that will be in this week. Jaylen Warren after what looked like a pretty nasty injury last week, had to sit out the rest of the game. Um, thank God it wasn’t as as bad as it looked live. Uh, it’s just an ankle injury and he was able to practice today and Thursday and he will be good to go for Sunday afternoon. Uh, which is going to be important uh for something that comes up in the Bears injury report here in just a second. Cole Hulkcom will officially be back this week coming off an illness. be interesting to see uh between him and Malik Harrison who gets uh the most snaps this week if they rotate those guys in as that third linebacker. Uh I I think that Harrison has looked really good in Cole Hulkcom’s absence and I don’t know if I necessarily want to change that on early downs. Guess we’ll see how the Steelers use him. And then Kan Williams is already out of concussion protocol after suffering a concussion last week against the Bengals on special teams. So Kan will be back uh in his normal capacities. Then on the other sideline this week, the Chicago Bears have some very intriguing injury news. All three of their top linebackers this week will be out for this ball game. Tmaine Edmonds is dealing with a groin injury. TJ Edwards is dealing with both hand and hamstring injuries. He was not able to get uh ramped up this week. And then Noah Su uh is also out this week with an elbow injury. And that’s really going to affect uh the way that the Chicago Bears can really call their defense. All right, because they’ve pretty much all of their second level players that they trust on the field are going to be out in this ball game. So, what I would expect from Chicago, a team that usually plays a lot of nickel, but I would expect them to play a lot of dime this week, which means u you know, six defensive backs uh to just one linebacker or maybe even five uh defensive linemen. We’ll just have to see how they line up, but you know, they just don’t have a lot of linebacker depth heading into this week’s game, which likely means they’re going to be playing extremely light. So, look for the Pittsburgh Steelers to really ramp up the size advantage and the strength advantage and try and run the the ball down their throats in this ball game. especially with Jaylen Warren good to go. You’re going to have all three of your backs uh ready uh to, you know, handle the workload that I think the Steelers are going to be going into this game with. Especially with Aaron Rogers, not, you know, 100% likely heading into this game. um whether it’s him or whether it’s Mason Rudolph under center in this ball game, I expect Jaylen Warren, Kenny Gainwell, and u even Caleb Johnson to be able to really carry the workload on offense because and and I do expect them to go pretty heavy jumbo personnel uh in this ball game because, you know, when you’re going to be facing a team that’s going to be as light and as you know, as um yeah, as light as the Chicago Bears defense is going to be this weekend and you’ve got you know, a 300 111 pound tight end in uh Darnell Washington. You got another offensive lineman you can put on the field in Spencer Anderson. Uh it sounds like you know Isaac Samalo’s got no issues. He’ll be ready to go for Sunday. You got your entire offensive line healthy. I mean that is a huge advantage that the Pittsburgh Steelers have going into this football game and it should be one that they should be able to exploit all game long. Um, so look for the Steelers run game to really be the X factor in this ball game, whether it’s Aaron Rogers or Mason Rudolph under center. Uh, the the star of the show, plain and simply should be the Steelers run game. And, um, hopefully this is, you know, a turning point in the season for the offense where, you know, we covered it actually in the video we put out earlier today about some offensive changes I would make for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Um, I suggested that the Steelers should pass the ball less. Right now, they’re passing the ball at over 58% of their plays, which is top 12 in the National Football League. And I really think that this offense was always built and should be a run first offense. I know you got, you know, arguably a top five quarterback of all time as your quarterback, but he’s not that level of player anymore. I think that Rogers is best suited as more of a game manager, uh, that is a secondary component to a really good run game. And, you know, Jaylen Warren is having the best season for a running back, for a Steelers running back. we have seen in in a little while now. So, um I think that he should be featured more. And then you got two pretty darn good supplementary backs in my opinion. I like I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Caleb Johnson over the last few weeks. Obviously, Kenny Gainwell’s had some really good performances as well. Um so, especially with the Bears, you know, kind of down bad in their linebacker room this week and they’re going to be forced to play a lot of DBs out there. Um, you know, certainly you should go out there and and try to run the ball, especially because Jaylen Johnson, their excellent number one corner, might be back on Sunday. He is officially questionable to go. He’s been working his way back from a groin injury. Kyler Gordon, their nickel, dealing with a calf injury is also questionable, but honestly, that one doesn’t matter as much to me. Um, because CJ Gardner Johnson has been really good for them this year in the nickel. Also, Theo Benedict, their starting left tackle, uh, who’s been a big part of their run game success ever since they benched Braxton Jones is questionable with a quad. And then their strong safety, Jaquan Brisker, is also questionable. And if Brisker’s not going to be able to go, that’s going to be a big deal for the Chicago Bears defense. So, um, those middle of the field defenders, uh, for Chicago are certainly going to be light on Sunday and, uh, the Pittsburgh Steelers need to work to really take advantage of that if they want to win this ball game on Sunday afternoon and improve to 7-4 on the season. So, um, you know, that’s kind of where I’m at right now, guys, in terms of, uh, these injury updates and how it’s going to affect this week’s ball game. I do want to touch on this just a just a little bit. I think I’m going to do a full video on this tomorrow. Um, but you guys are probably watching this with the knowledge that Diana Rousini from The Athletic has reported uh that Brandon Aayuk and the 49ers are now on their way towards a divorce. Um, the 49ers have voided the guaranteed money on Iayuk’s uh future uh years on his contract because he hasn’t been attending uh team meetings, all this different stuff. And uh it sounds like the 49ers are still hopeful that Aayuk will agree to play with them uh once he gets healthy down the stretch here. Uh but according to a report from Mike Silver, Iuk has likely no uh you know no intentions of playing for the San Francisco 49ers ever again. So, you know, I’ll probably do a full video on this tomorrow, but you know, just my quick thoughts on that to finish today’s show. Um, you know, I would say, you know, not a great chance I even hits the market this year. Um, the 49ers really don’t have any incentive to give Iayuk, you know, uh, you know, a chance to sign with somebody else. They don’t have to throw him that bone. U,, my guess is they probably release him at the end of the season and then, uh, once he’s a free agent next off season, my guess is he probably signs with the Commanders. um you know he he sounded like he was uh you know at least open to coming to the Pittsburgh Steelers when the Steelers tried to pursue him last year but um obviously he goes back to the 49ers and uh Jaden Daniels the commanders quarterback is Iuk’s best friend he’s a former college teammate of his and not to mention the former assistant GM u from the 49ers uh current commanders GM Adam Peters obviously has an established relationship with Brandon Iayuk so my guess is Iayuk in 2026 six will be a Washington commander, not a Pittsburgh Steeler. Uh but if the 49ers do just end up releasing Brandon Iayuk this season, um you know, that would be the instance where I could see Iayuk signing with the Steelers because obviously the Steelers could probably use somebody of his talent, somebody that is an excellent route runner, all that different stuff. And you know, he would come dirt cheap if if if he ends up signing with the Steelers this season. So, we’ll have to keep our eye on that. But really, this 49ers don’t really have any reason to release him uh during the regular season this year. It just makes more sense to keep him on their roster this year cuz they’re already paid him his money that he’s due. Um and they don’t really save any cap money by by letting him go. So, it makes more sense for the Niners just to keep him on their roster for the rest of the season, then let him go next off season. But, um I guess there’s always a chance they just want to cut their losses and let and just, you know, be done with with Brandon Nayuk. So, guess we’ll see what happens on that front. I’ll probably do a full video breaking down the entire situation with Iayuk tomorrow so you guys have all the information. But I appreciate you guys um coming in here listening to this uh injury update here as we get ready for week 12 versus the Bears. I will have not one but two videos for you guys tomorrow. We’ll see if MVS or Asante Samuel Jr. gets elevated from the practice squad tomorrow. If there’s any more IU updates, I’ll make sure to get that to you guys as well. And then of course we have our weekly mailbag where I answer your questions on the black and gold. So if you don’t want to miss any of that, make sure you guys click that subscribe button. Greatly appreciate your guys’ support. Until next time, guys.

Steelers injury news: The Pittsburgh Steelers travel to Soldier Field to play the Chicago Bears. Both teams are dealing with injuries as LB’s TremIne Edmunds, T.J Edwards and Noah Sewell are all out this Sunday. QB Aaron Rodgers and DT Cam Heyward are listed as questionable for Sunday. How will these injuries impact the matchup? Jack Sperry breaks it down on today’s Steelers Talk by Chat Sports.

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Steelers Injury Report:
– Doubtful: Alex Highsmith (Pec)
– Questionable: Aaron Rodgers (Wrist), Darius Slay (Concussion), Cam Heyward (Ankle)
– In: Jaylen Warren (Ankle), Cole Holcomb (Illness), Ke’Shawn Williams (Concussion)

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Bears Injury Report:
– Out: Tremaine Edmunds (Groin), T.J. Edwards (Hand/Hamstring), Noah Sewell (Elbow)
– Questionable: Jaylon Johnson (Groin), Kyler Gordon (Calf) Theo Benedet (Quad), Jaquan Brisker (Shoulder)

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– Round 1, Pick #21: Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon)
– Round 3, Pick #87: Kaleb Johnson (RB, Iowa)
– Round 4, Pick #123: Jack Sawyer (EDGE, Ohio State)
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