Mike Tomlin Press Conference: Bye Week Injuries, Anthony Chickillo, Defensive Depth
Injuries
Mike Tomlin says the Steelers are dealing with a growing list of injuries that the severity will be determined of throughout the week. The team returned to practice yesterday following the Bye Week, but will continue to nurse some of their star players.
Mark Barron (hamstring), Rosie Nix (knee), T.J. Watt (abdominal), Mike Hilton (calf), Steven Nelson (groin) will all be evaluated at the week progresses. Tomlin described Watt and Hilton as being "slowed" by injuries, but didn't rule out the possibility of everyone playing this week.
Mason Rudolph has also been cleared by concussion protocol, and returned to the team's practice yesterday. Tomlin said it was good to have the quarterback back on the field.
Dolphins
Despite being winless, Tomlin said the Steelers aren't taking the Miami Dolphins for granted. Starting with the team's "respect" for Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Tomlin says the Dolphins are dealing with a number of veterans in the secondary being injured, and it effecting the team's flow. He pointed out the close games Miami has been a part of, comparing it to the Steelers' loses this season.
The Steelers scouted Jerome Baker coming out of college, and will prepare for the Ohio State alum this weekend. On offense, DeVante Parker is the key receiver, with Mark Walton and Keyan Drake taking most of the handoffs. Tomlin pointed out each player as an element of the offense the Steelers defense will need to, again, "respect".
Anthony Chickillo
Mike Tomlin confirmed that he did speak to outside linebacker, Anthony Chickillo, since his arrest on Sunday night. Court records show that Chickillo was arraigned and taken into custody for a domestic dispute between he and his girlfriend. He was released on a $10,000 bond.
Tomlin wouldn't address the conversation between himself and his player, saying, "I'll leave it between he and I."
Like the rest of the locker room, Tomlin let the team's representative handle the situation. Yesterday, Mason Rudolph and Cameron Heyward didn't address the arrest. Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert released this statement Tuesday morning:
"In regard to the recent incident involving Anthony Chickillo, we will continue to gather information, and we will fully cooperate with the NFL’s investigation. Any discipline involving the player will be determined after the gathering of further information from law enforcement and the League Office."
When asked for his remarks, Tomlin referred back to the team's words on Chickillo and the investigation.
"There's not a lot for us to say or a lot we can say, pending an investigation and the sensitivity of the circumstances," Tomlin said. "It's obviously something we take very seriously but I'll just leave it at that."
Tomlin did not confirm or deny that Chickillo would practice with the team this week.
Outside Linebacker Depth
The Steelers could rely on Ola Adeniyi to play a much larger role at outside linebacker if Chickillo and Watt will need to miss time. Bud Dupree and Adeniyi could be the only two players available at the position, that have seen regular season action this season.
"I'm not feeling great but such is life," Tomlin said. "In the National Football League, at times you're going to be challenged in certain ways positionally. I didn't feel great about our running back depth last week. It's part of this team, part of this journey and it's part of the process. We'll make due, we'll make the necessary adjustments at linebacker, or anywhere else we may be falling short of depth or numbers."
Adeniyi may have to play a mixture of both side of the football in Week 8. If Watt has to miss time with an abdominal injury, the Steelers will rely on their only remaining outside linebackers. A position Tomlin says everyone will need to be ready to be versatile in.
"I can't speak to comfortability," Tomlin said. "I think all of our guys better have big time versatility and playing the right or left should not be significant in putting their hand in the pile."
