Steelers RB Conner to miss game with ankle injury

Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner will miss Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders due to a sprained left ankle, coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday.

Conner was injured during the fourth quarter of Sunday night's game against the Los Angeles Chargers and the team initially thought the injury was minor.

But medical tests revealed a more serious injury to the ankle, leading to the diagnosis of a sprain.

"James Conner's injury is probably a little more significant than we initially thought," Tomlin told reporters. "He's got an ankle sprain, not a contusion, and so he'll be out this week."

The Steelers will certainly miss Conner, who has rushed for 909 yards and 12 touchdowns and caught 52 passes for 467 yards and one score.

Rookie Jaylen Samuels figures to get most of the work against the Raiders. The fifth-round pick had two carries for five yards against the Chargers and three receptions for 20 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown.

Overall, Samuels has 12 carries for 31 yards this season and seven receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Samuels was primarily a tight end in college at North Carolina State and caught 201 passes for 1,851 yards and 19 touchdowns. He rushed the ball 182 times for 1,107 yards and 28 touchdowns.

Pittsburgh-area reporters asked Samuels on Monday if he had ever been the main running back in a game.

"Have I ever been a true runner?" Samuels said. "No. I have never been like a true running back who gets like 20 carries in a game. But if that presents itself, I am ready for whatever. I am down for whatever tasks."

The Steelers also have Stevan Ridley in the mix. The eight-year veteran has rushed for 56 yards on 18 carries this season and last touched the ball on Nov. 8.

Pittsburgh also promoted running back Trey Edmunds from the practice squad and placed receiver Justin Hunter (shoulder) on injured reserve. Edmunds had 48 yards and one touchdown on nine rushes for the New Orleans Saints in 2017.

Conner became the Steelers' main back due to Le'Veon Bell's holdout from the team.

--Field Level Media

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)