Pittsburgh’s win over the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday came at a cost, with the Steelers concerned that a second linebacker has sustained an anterior cruciate ligament tear and won’t return this season, according to NFL Network and ESPN.
Outside linebacker Bud Dupree, who is playing this season under the Steelers’ franchise tag, left the game with an apparent left knee injury in the second half as Pittsburgh hung on for a 19-14 home win that ran its record to 11-0.
Dupree sustained a noncontact injury during the second half.
Pittsburgh lost middle linebacker Devin Bush to an ACL tear in his left knee against Cleveland in Pittsburgh on Oct. 18.
Dupree emerged as a pass-rushing force last season with 11 1/2 sacks, and he had eight this season. He had had two tackles for loss but no sacks on Wednesday.
Coach Mike Tomlin said he didn’t expect to have an update on Dupree’s status until Thursday.
Wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster said the postgame locker room “was very quiet, very sad, very low, just because having our fellow teammate going down, Bud, and not knowing what’s going on over there.”
Dupree is in his sixth season, all with the Steelers, after he was drafted in the first round (22nd overall) in 2015 out of Kentucky.
In 81 games, 66 starts, he has 39 1/2 sacks, 231 tackles, 55 tackles for loss. He also has one interception, which he brought back for a touchdown in 2018, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.