The Pittsburgh Steelers grabbed a victory to open the season Monday, but it came with a few potentially significant losses.
Running back James Conner suffered an ankle sprain in the 26-16 win over the Giants, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, but the team is "optimistic for a timely return," a source added. Right tackle Zach Banner was also injured, as was right guard Stefen Wisniewski.
Coach Mike Tomlin didn't have a definitive update after the game but said all three injured Steelers are being evaluated.
"I don't know what the status of all of those guys are," Tomlin said. "Obviously, we are working on a short week, so we better be ready to close ranks."
After getting his left ankle retaped, Conner exited the game early and did not appear again after a 1-yard carry with 13:41 left in the second quarter. In the fourth quarter, Conner, who had just six carries for 9 yards, was announced as questionable to return because of an ankle injury. Benny Snell Jr. took over for the Steelers' featured back and rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries.
Potentially even more costly is the injury to Banner, who won the starting right tackle job over Chuks Okorafor after a training camp battle.
Banner appeared to hurt his knee as JuJu Smith-Schuster scored his second touchdown of the night in the fourth quarter. After being helped to the sideline without putting much, if any, weight on his leg, Banner was taken back to the locker room on a cart.
