Depth continues to thin at RB as James Conner sits out practice for Steelers
Running back James Conner and guard Ramon Foster were downgraded on the Pittsburgh Steelers injury report Thursday with neither offensive starter participating in practice.
Conner (shoulder) and Foster (concussion) were limited in practice Wednesday but did not get on the field Thursday.
Conner’s setback complicates the running back situation for the Steelers’ game Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Fullback Roosevelt Nix (knee) and reserve tailback Trey Edmunds (ribs) have not practiced this week, and Benny Snell continues to recover from knee surgery. That leaves Jaylen Samuels and newcomer Tony Brooks-James as the only healthy options on the 53-man roster.
The depth is so thin at the position that the Steelers brought back former Pitt running back Darrin Hall to the practice squad one day after cutting him.
An addition to the injury report is defensive lineman Tyson Alualu (knee), who did not practice Thursday. Alualu has started at defensive end since Stephon Tuitt was lost for the season to a pectoral injury that required surgery.
Wide receiver Ryan Switzer (back) returned to practice Thursday along with three players who were given the previous day off: linebacker Mark Barron, center Maurkice Pouncey and tight end Vance McDonald.
The 4-4 Steelers have one day of practice remaining before they face the 5-3 Rams at Heinz Field.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.
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