Could the seeming gradual transition from Levi Wallace to Joey Porter Jr. as a Pittsburgh Steelers outside cornerback be hastened by an injury this week?
Wallace, the six-year veteran who’s in his second season with the Steelers, did not practice Wednesday. According to the league-mandated injury report, Wallace has a foot injury.
Coach Mike Tomlin had not previously revealed Wallace’s injury. During Sunday’s win at the Los Angeles Rams, Porter for the first time played more defensive snaps than Wallace (53-49). Taken No. 32 overall by the Steelers in April’s draft, Porter played almost exclusively as a No. 6 defensive back over the Steelers’ first four games of the season but over the past two games has been a more significant part of the defense.
The only other player listed on the Wednesday’s Steelers status report because of injury was starting inside linebacker Cole Holcomb. He was a full participant despite an ankle injury suffered against the Rams.
Reserve interior offensive lineman Nate Herbig missed practice because of illness, and veteran starting guard Isaac Seumalo was given the day off. Veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson took on a lighter workload than usual but is not designated as having an injury.
Running back Anthony McFarland continues to practice fully but remains on the injured reserve list because of a knee injury that has prevented him from playing since Week 1. McFarland must be activated by Nov. 6 or is lost for the season.
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