Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowlers JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner remained absent from practice on Wednesday as the team began its week of practicing leading up to Sunday’s game against the Browns.
Smith-Schuster cleared concussion protocol on Wednesday, but his knee injury is a bigger issue, preventing him from practicing. The receiver sustained both injuries on the same play at Cleveland on Nov. 14.
Conner continues to battle a shoulder injury, which he aggravated at Cleveland after initially sustaining it in Week 8 against Miami. He lasted just 13 snaps in his Week 11 return, and he told reporters Monday “it’ll be a little longer” before he can return again.
“I don’t know what their status will be as I stand here,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday.
Rookie fourth-rounder Benny Snell had the best game of his young career in Conner’s place on Sunday against the Bengals, returning from a three-game absence due to a knee injury and rushing for 98 yards on 21 carries.
With Smith-Schuster also out in Cincinnati, second-year wideout James Washington had three catches for 98 yards, including a 79-yard catch-and-run touchdown.