Multiple Crucial Steelers Players Were Banged up During Week 16 Loss to Jets

The Pittsburgh Steelers had the chance to gain ground on the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Wild Card race in Week 16. Instead, they fell to the New York Jets 16-10, and suffered an even more gut-wrenching loss with multiple key players going down with injuries.

Quarterback Mason Rudolph, running back James Conner, center Maurkice Pouncey, and linebacker Bud Dupree were all banged up in the loss to the Jets, which could leave the Steelers at a big disadvantage in Week 17 against the Ravens.

Rudolph entered Sunday's game after quarterback Devlin Hodges threw two interceptions in the first half. Yet, he was removed from the game after suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, making way for Hodges to return.

Meanwhile, Conner has been the definition of injury-prone this season. After missing five games due to a nagging shoulder injury, the third-year running back went down with a thigh injury, and was removed from the game. In all, he's featured in more than 50% of offensive snaps in just six games.

Perhaps the most brutal injury to happen on the offensive side of the ball is to Pouncey, the anchor at the line of scrimmage. When he was attempting a block on Jets linebacker Neville Hewitt, Pouncey's knee hit the turf hard, and the veteran was carted off the field shortly afterwards.

As for Dupree, it was revealed postgame that he suffered a shoulder injury during Sunday's contest, and will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the severity.

This isn't what the Steelers wanted to deal with entering a must-win Week 17 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. If they win and the Houston Texans defeat the Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh clinches a playoff berth.

That will be tough to do with all these injuries accrued in Week 16.