Two Pittsburgh Steelers starters on defense did not finish Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills because of injury.
Inside linebacker Patrick Queen suffered a hip injury late in the second quarter of the 26-7 defeat. Initially announced by the team as questionable to return, early in the third quarter the Steelers announced that Queen would miss the rest of the game.
“He wasn’t able to run,” coach Mike Tomlin said, “so he wasn’t allowed to come back into the game.”
Five snaps after Queen was injured, cornerback James Pierre suffered what later would be referred to by the Steelers as a concussion. Though Pierre returned to the game briefly, he later was announced as out.
Tomlin after the game said Pierre “is in the concussion protocol.”
Pierre made his third consecutive start at outside cornerback in place of veteran Darius Slay. Slay suffered a concussion during a Nov. 9 loss at the Los Angeles Chargers and missed the following game. When he returned last week, Pierre started in his place. For Sunday’s game, Slay was inactive.
Making his Steelers debut, Asante Samuel stepped in for Pierre against Buffalo. A five-year NFL starter who had offseason neck surgery, Samuel was signed to the Steelers’ practice squad Nov. 12.
Queen led the Steelers in tackles last season after joining the team as their most expensive external free-agent signing in franchise history. Sunday, Buffalo had 249 rushing yards, the most by an opponent in Pittsburgh in more than 50 years.
