The 2020 NFL season may well go down in history as the year the league had to deal with both the COVID-19 pandemic and a pandemic of injuries.  The hits just keep on coming and, with only four weeks remaining in the season, having every player healthy counts.

The Steelers In A Tough Spot

Adding injury to insult after their first loss of the season to the Washington Football Team, the Pittsburgh Steelers are having a little difficulty.  Head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Tuesday that cornerback Joe Haden is now in concussion protocol and that the knee injury to linebacker Robert Spillane is still under evaluation.

Steelers linebackers are having a particularly bad year, with both edge rusher Bud Dupree and former first-round draft pick Devin Bush out for the season with torn ACLs.

Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson should be coming off of IR and Coach Tomlin is hopeful that he will get running back James Conner and center Maurkice Pouncey back off the reserve/COVID-19 list for next week’s Sunday Night Football showdown with the Buffalo Bills.

The Browns To Play Minus Taylor

Over in Cleveland, the Browns have announced that guard Wyatt Teller has had to go on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list and that wide receiver Taywan Taylor has gone on the IR list due to a neck injury.

Veteran All-Star receiver Larry Fitzgerald is scheduled to come back for the Arizona Cardinals after spending two weeks on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Cornerback Kevin Peterson is still on IR in concussion protocol and defensive end Jordan Phillips is out with a hamstring injury. Defensive Tackle Cory Peters has a banged up kneecap and is also on injured reserve.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Auden Tate is out for the year after undergoing successful shoulder surgery, and, hopefully, will be ready to go in time for training camp next season.

Receiver Adam Humphries is in concussion protocol and has been place on IR by the Tennessee Titans.

WFT Silent On Injuries

Head coach Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team gave no update this week on the injury to running back Antonio Gibson, who limped off the field with a toe injury.

The Green Bay Packers will likely put both defensive lineman Billy Winn, who has injured his triceps, and kick return specialist Tyler Ervin, with a banged-up foot, on the IR list for now.  It looks like Ervin will probably miss the remainder of the season.

LA Rams running back Cam Akers has a banged-up shoulder and defensive lineman Michael Brockers has a banged-up knee. Both were limited in practice, but head coach Sean McVay believes that they will both play in the upcoming meeting with the New England Patriots.

The Pats Lose More Players

The hapless Patriots are reporting no less than 14 players as being limited on Tuesday.  This included quarterback Cam Newton, who still has a sore abdomen, guard Shaq Mason with a hurt calf, cornerback J.C. Jackson with hip and knee issues and kicker Nick Folk, who has hurt his back.

Atlanta Falcons defensive back Jordan Miller has a strained oblique and is still on IR, and free safety Ricardo Allen is in concussion protocol until further notice.

Wide receiver Willie Sneed and tight end Mark Andrews for the Baltimore Ravens are both out with reserve/COVID-19 issues and wide receiver Dez Bryant has announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is considering opting out for the remainder of the season.

Lewis, Dodson Out For The Bills

The Buffalo Bills have cornerback Cam Lewis on the IR list with an injured wrist and linebacker Tyrel Dodson out with a hamstring. Wide receivers Isaiah Hodgins, who is nursing a banged up shoulder, and John Brown, with an ankle sprain, are both on IR.

The Carolina Panthers are listing wide receiver D.J. Moore as having a high ankle sprain and questionable for next week’s action. Plus, the Panthers now have five guys on the IR reserve/COVID-19 list, including Shaq Green-Thompson, Curtis Samuel, Zach Kerr, Greg Little and Derrick Brown.  The team got some good news, though, as running back Christian McCaffrey said he’s ready to go for this Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.  He’ll be able to team up once again with QB Teddy Bridgewater.