JuJu Smith-Schuster is currently considered day-to-day after sustaining bruised ribs during the Steelers‘ Week 3 loss to the Bengals, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Pittsburgh’s veteran receiver reportedly received negative test results after exiting Pittsburgh’s 24-10 loss.
Smith-Schuster caught all three of his targets for 25 yards prior to leaving Sunday’s game. With Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson (who was inactive with a knee injury) not in the lineup, Pittsburgh’s passing game relied heavily on rookie running back Najee Harris and second-year receiver Chase Claypool. Harris caught a franchise rookie record 14 passes (on 19 targets) for 102 yards. Claypool caught 9 of 15 targets for 96 yards, but his performance also included two costly pass interference penalties.
Despite the absences of two of his top receivers, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger put the ball in the air 58 times. He completed 35 of those attempts for 318 yards, but he also threw two interceptions that led to 14 of Cincinnati’s points. Roethlisberger was also sacked four times while being hit seven times. Pittsburgh was forced to throw after falling behind by 17 points late in the third quarter. The Steelers’ reliance on Roethlisberger’s arm was also due to a non-existent running game that gained a paltry 40 yards on 14 attempts. Pittsburgh’s 159 rushing yards through three games is the smallest total in the NFL.
The 24-year-old Smith-Schuster has 13 receptions for 118 yards through three games. A Pro Bowler in 2019, Smith-Schuster is coming off of a 2020 season that saw him catch 97 passes for 831 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns. A free agent this past offseason, Smith-Schuster signed a one-year deal to remain with the Steelers. He is hoping to have a more robust market this offseason with the league’s expanded salary cap.
