Steelers will travel to Paris without Brandin Echols and Ben Skowronek
Pittsburgh rules out its cornerback and receiver for the Saints game, with both set to miss the trip
The Pittsburgh Steelers will leave for Paris without cornerback Brandin Echols or wide receiver Ben Skowronek. Both have been ruled out of Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints: Echols has a hamstring injury and Skowronek a calf injury. The travel decision settles their availability before the team reaches France.
Skowronek hurt his calf in Week 5. Echols was used for three defensive snaps and 11 special-teams snaps last week before his injury. Their absences affect different parts of Pittsburgh's game-day personnel: one is a defensive back with special-teams work, the other a receiver. Neither will be an option to dress in Paris, rather than simply carrying a questionable designation into the weekend.
Other names on the practice report had different statuses. Cam Heyward did not practice because of rest, while Jalen Ramsey, Rico Dowdle, Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt were limited with listed ailments. DeShon Elliott participated fully despite his knee designation. Watt's calf issue was a new appearance on the injury report, but a limited listing does not equate to the out designations for Echols and Skowronek. The Steelers' other availability decisions remain separate from the two players who will not make the trip.