If the Steelers are going to beat the Cleveland Browns in Ben Roethlisberger's final home game at Heinz Field, they're going to do it with a patchwork defensive lineup.
The Steelers didn't get any good news on the COVID-19 front over the weekend and will play the Browns on Monday night without starting inside linebackers Devin Bush and Joe Schubert. Bush has been on the COVID list since December 22 and Schubert left last weekend.
Robert Spillane, Marcus Allen, Ulysses Gilbert and Tegre Schell are active inside linebackers for the Steelers. Spillane is expected to play most of the snaps, but Allen has played only 17 defensive snaps this season, while Gilbert has played only nine, in last week's game against the Chiefs.
Schell was signed from the Bengals practice squad over the weekend and experienced with the Steelers last season to be in the mix as well.
Corliss Weightman will take over the responsibility of punting for the second consecutive game. Regular punter Pressley Harwin III did not practice for a whole week due to death and illness in his family. Weightman punts 63 and 58 yards against the Chiefs last week.
In addition to Harwin, the Steelers also disabled quarterback Dwayne Haskins, linebacker Buddy Johnson and defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs.
The Browns disabled Karim Hunt to run back, who was suspected with an ankle injury. The Browns, who were knocked out of the playoff race on Sunday, will also be without starting Safaris to John Johnson and Ronnie Harrison, who were ousted on Saturday.
The Steelers will have to beat the Browns and the Ravens in the regular season finale next week and the Colts will have to lose to the Jaguars to make the playoffs.