The devastating news came from the Pittsburgh Steelers this week as two of its star players, wideout Anthony Miller and safety Karl Joseph are reportedly heading to the doctor’s office after potentially sustaining season-ending injuries.
Miller injured his shoulder in the team’s practice session last week, while Joseph hurt his ankle in the preseason game opener against the Seattle Seahawks on August 13, as per Steelers beat writer and DK Pittsburgh Sports contributor Dale Lolley.
Steelers’ growing number of injured players
Miller’s absence following his shoulder injury might not be a huge blow to the team as evidenced in Pittsburgh’s great display of the WR department last week. There are not many details about the 27-year-old’s injury or a timetable for his return.
As for Joseph, his injury could potentially be much worse, as per multiple reports. While the team has yet to release further updates regarding the former Cleveland Browns, ESPN’s Brooke Pryor noted that the player was seen with crutches and in a boot.
“Steelers have put Anthony Miller and Karl Joseph on IR, ending their seasons,” Brooke wrote.
The Steelers have shown great potential in the upcoming regular season after they successfully defeated the Seahawks last week. However, the team might be limited performance-wise as its list of injured players is growing.
Aside from both Miller and Joseph, there are six other players on the list which includes running back Najee Harris, WR Diontae Johnson, WR Chase Claypool, offensive guard Kevin Dotson, linebacker Genard Avery, and tight end Zach Gentry. Reportedly, all of these players have returned to team practice but none played in the preseason game opener. There is also WR Miles Boykin who is dealing with a hip injury.
Miller, Joseph’s career in Pittsburgh
Miller was initially signed to the Steelers practice squad on October 12, 2021, after he was traded to the Houston Rockets in late July that year. Pittsburgh promoted him to the active roster in November and would sign him to a reserve/future contract on January 24 this year.
Prior to Pittsburgh and Houston, the Memphis native debuted his career with the Chicago Bears in 2018 as he was drafted in the second round, 51st overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. Chicago released him alongside a 2022 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round pick from Houston. He only played two games with the Rockets.
All in all, Miller has played 50 games in his career and started in 18. He recorded 140 passes for 1,589.
Joseph also had the same start in Pittsburgh’s practice squad as Miller in late 2021. The 28-year-old was promoted to the active roster in October that year. His debut in the NFL began with the Oakland Raiders now Las Vegas Raiders in 2016 via a four-year fully guaranteed $11.88 million contract. The contract also included a $6.84 million signing bonus.
He would remain with the team until he signed a one-year contract with the Browns in 2020 but ended up becoming an unrestricted free agent in that season. In April 2021, the Raiders signed Joseph only to release him four months later.
In five seasons playing in the big league, the Orlando native played 63 games and started in 49. He posted 220 solo and 303 combined tackles.