The Steelers improved to 5-0 after beating Brown, but the win did not come without a heavy price. In the first half of Sunday’s 38-7 win, Pittsburgh left the game well after second-year linebacker Devin Bush sustained a knee injury while playing pass defense. While the Steelers did not elaborate on the significance of the injury, CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora reported that Bush suffered a torn ACL. ESPN No. According to Adam Shafter the injury will require season-ending surgery.
Robert Spilen, a three-year veteran who has mostly contributed to special teams during two seasons with the Steelers, dropped Bush into the lineup on Sunday, with six tackle recordings in which the Browns faced tight Austin Hopper, resulting in a six-yard loss and while Spilen With only 39 season regulars on the inside linebacker under his belt, Steelers coach Mike Tom Malin is confident his young linebacker could be an effective replacement for Bush.
“More than Spiel answered the bell, but we’ve got a lot of confidence in him.” Tomley said after the game. “He’s a capable guy. The guys who make plays in special teams, he usually does plays on defense. He’s a predecessor. Because we brought him in the middle of last year, he’s been a consistent performer for us. So I don’t. We think any of us are amazed at the quality of the game. “
Tomley has also hinted at fellow backup linebackers Ulysses Gilbert and Marcus Allen as players to replace Bush, who will be part of the team’s plan to lead the Steelers with 109 tackles and four fouls last season. Gilbert, a sixth-round pick in the 2019 draft, has only appeared in one game this season and has yet to take a defensive snap during a regular season game. Allen, the fifth-round pick of 2018, who switched to the linebacker safely this summer, has never played a normal season snap on the inside linebacker.
On Sunday, Spiel wore a Pittsburgh defensive headset helmet after replacing Bush and will do so again for Sunday’s game against the Titans. According to ESPN’s Brooke Prior. In his first game as a starter, Spilan will help to slow down the defense of the Steelers, Derrick Henry, leading the NFL with 588 rushing yards. And while the Titans arguably have the league’s best run, the Steelers arguably boast the league’s best run defense after allowing just 331 rushing yards through five games. And while Bush was a key contributor to that success, the Steelers enjoyed the big contributions of defensive end Stephen Tutt, defensive tackle Cameron Hayward and Tyson Allu and inside linebacker Vince Williams as they relate to Pittsburgh’s run defense. Pittsburgh has also received elite passes from outside linebackers TJ Watt and Bud Dupree, who are on pace to record a combined 30 sacks this season.
Three years ago, the Steelers signed agent fee agent Sean Spence (a former Steeler pardoned by the Colts in mid-season) after 12 games of his sharp spine injury during the season of Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Shazier. And while the Steelers may finally decide to explore outside options on the position, Tomlin will first give his current backup a chance to move forward in Bush’s absence inside the linebacker.
“We will keep up with a formula that will allow us to work in the interim,” Tomley said. “Believe it.”
