Steelers/NFL
The Pittsburgh Steelers No. 1 rank defense suffered a significant blow in their 23-22 win and the team will have to find ways to keep their status as an elite defense without top defensive end Aaron Smith.
Smith has not shown the ability to stay healthy and suffered a left arm injury in the win and early indications is that he will be sidelined for several months with a torn triceps.
The fear is that Smith’s season will be cut short early for the third time in four years.
Smith is expected to be fully evaluated on Monday by Pittsburgh doctors, according to Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com.
The loss of Smith could be devastating to the Steelers whose depth on the D-line is already being tested with Brett Keisel injured with a hamstring injury.
2009 1st round Ziggy Hood has not stepped up in his second year like the Steelers thought he would. Veteran Nick Eason replaced Keisel in the starting lineup.
Elsewhere on the injury front, LaMarr Woodley left the game with a tweaked hamstring. Woodley did not play in the 2nd half but the injury is not considered serious.
