The Pittsburgh Steelers injury-filled training camp continued into Saturday's opening preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks. Two of the guys that got injured in that game, wide receiver Anthony Miller and safety Karl Joseph, have been ruled out for the whole 2022 season. Head coach Mike Tomlin announced these Tuesday morning, according to DK Pittsburgh Sports' Dale Lolley.
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The injuries for Karl Joseph (ankle) and Anthony Miller (shoulder) are season-ending. Tough break for Miller, who was on pace to make the 53-man roster.
— Dale Lolley (@dlolley_pgh) August 16, 2022
While these injuries aren't exactly dealbreakers, it's quite unfortunate for two veterans that were looking to revive their respective careers. Miller was enjoying a tremendous training camp and seemed to be in line to make the 53-man roster. Beyond the four WR locks, Miller had earned a likely spot alongside Gunner Olszewski to round out the group. He benefitted greatly from Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool sitting out large portions of practice. His chemistry with his old quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, from Chicago, was on full display. Then, he suffered an unfortunate shoulder injury in the preseason opener.
Joseph was able to catch onto the Steelers roster last season after a disappointing few seasons with the Oakland Raiders. While he only played two games and got a few snaps in on defense, the former first-rounder was able to make an impact on special teams. Joseph injured his right ankle in Saturday's victory over the Seahawks.
As for this season, Joseph was far from a guarantee to make the opening day roster. The Steelers added Damontae Kazee to the safety room this off-season, and he's since become the primary backup to the starters, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds. Miles Killebrew is a lock to make the team despite his recent injuries, as he's arguably the team's most important special teamer.
Credit: Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (Twitter: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Tre Norwood, who had an exceptional game on Saturday, looks to make a big jump in his sophomore season. While he can play cornerback, he counts as another safety option. That's already five, so Joseph was perhaps on the outside looking in. Still, it's quite unfortunate for the West Virginia product. Now, the team's depth will be put to the test. Specifically at wide receiver, the team will now look to likely bring in a few more outside options to replace the two's roster spots.
Are you still confident in the team's depth at safety and wide receiver? What were your expectations for Miller this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below, and be sure to interact with our social media sites!
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