Steelers unsure which of the banged-up receivers they will face against Eagles

Three days before they play the Philadelphia Eagles, the Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t know which wide receivers they will be tasked with defending on Sunday at Heinz Field.

Veterans DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffrey – the two projected starters entering the season — remain question marks heading into the game, a recurring issue for the Eagles throughout the year.

Jackson missed the Eagles game at San Francisco last weekend with a hamstring injury, and he returned to practiced Thursday on a limited capacity. Jeffrey hasn’t played at all this year with a foot injury and he missed practice Thursday due to an illness after returning on a limited basis Wednesday.

Injuries are nothing new to the Eagles at wide receiver. They also were without rookie Jalen Reagor (thumb, IR) and backup JJ Arcega-Whiteside (calf) against the 49ers. In addition, tight end Dallas Goeddert (ankle) is on injured reserve.

That is one reason the Eagles rank No. 25 in passing offense and, behind Carson Wentz, have the league’s worst passer rating.

Who will the Steelers prepare to face on Sunday aside from three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz?

“You’re guessing,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. “There is a lot of guess work to it. You have to make everything generic and then see who plays and then maybe adjust during the game to see who is in there and who is not.

“We’re going to do the best we can with the knowledge we’ve got. Anticipating people playing or not playing, you can’t control that. We have to line up against the people who will play and do our best.”

Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said the Steelers are preparing as if Jackson and Jeffrey will start. Jeffrey, an eight-year vet, is in his third season with the Eagles. Jackson, who is in his 13^th season, is in the second year of his second tour with Philadelphia.

“When you have two guys like them who have a year or two of film with the quarterback, you get to watch older tape. There’s plenty of film,” Fitzpatrick said. “The younger guys or newer guys will be more difficulty (to study), but those are two household names across the league.”

The Eagles also have been dogged by injuries on the offensive line, losing two starters before the season began. Center Jason Kelce and right tackle Lane Johnson are the only starters among the projected five entering the year, and Johnson has been slowed by an ankle injury. Center Jason Kelce (hip) and guard Nate Herbig (groin) returned to practice Thursday after being limited the previous day.