Steelers Rule Out Two Players Early Against Saints

The Pittsburgh Steelers have already ruled out two players for their Week 7 game against the New Orleans Saints.

Before flying over to Paris, the Steelers released their second injury report of the week and revealed that both cornerback Brandin Echols (hamstring) and wide receiver Ben Skowronek (calf) will be inactive when the teams hits the field at the Stade de France vs. New Orleans.

Echols and Skowronek have each been non-participants in practice this week, which foreshadowed their eventual absences against the Saints.

Echols suffered his injury on a Steelers punt return with under two minutes left in the first half of the team's Week 6 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was later ruled out for the remainder of the contest.

The 28-year-old had previously been in the concussion protocol following Pittsburgh's Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, though he was cleared in time to suit up on a short week for a Thursday Night Football bout with the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 and had been active from that point forward until suffering his hamstring injury.

Skowronek, meanwhile, sustained his injury in the first half of Pittsburgh's win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5 and did not play vs. Tampa Bay.

Sep 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek (15) reacts after a fumble recovery during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Steelers' Depth Getting Tested at Key Positions

With Echols out, the Steelers are going to have to count on Sean Murphy-Bunting and/or Terell Smith against the Saints.

Neither Murphy-Bunting or Smith has seen the field since signing to the team's 53-man roster from the practice squads of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Commanders, respectively, ahead of Week 5.

Now, though, at least one of them will likely be active and potentially see the field, albeit in a limited role, this week unless Pittsburgh signs Doneiko Slaughter to its 53-man roster.

At receiver, DK Metcalf and Germie Bernard will handle just about the entire workload with Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) and Roman Wilson (finger) on IR while Skowronek misses a second-straight game.

Brandon Smith and Brandon Johnson could very well be elevated from the practice squad once again, though Marquez Valdes-Scantling may get the nod too despite returning to the Steelers just a matter of days ago.

Then, on the interior of the defensive line, Sebastian Joseph-Day (triceps) was placed on IR before Pittsburgh left for Paris. With Derrick Harmon (foot) having been on IR after suffering his injury in Week 4, the Steelers are short at that position as well and will need sixth-round Gabriel Rubio to continue stepping up while potentially having undrafted rooke Kevin Jobity Jr. active for the first time this season too.

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