Injuries continue to mount for Steelers as they head into bye week

CARSON, Calif. — Not only are the Pittsburgh Steelers entering their bye week, they will get an extra day off before returning to face the Miami Dolphins on “Monday Night Football” in two weeks.

They might need every extra minute to get healthy.

Already minus six players who were ruled out before the Steelers took the field for their 24-17 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night, the bodies continued to filter into the trainer’s room as the night progressed.

Defensive end Stephon Tuitt was the first player to exit, leaving in the first quarter with a pectoral injury. Cornerback Joe Haden hurt his groin in the second half and outside linebacker T.J. Watt didn’t finish with an oblique injury.

On offense, running back James Conner didn’t make it to the finish line because of a quad injury.

No wonder coach Mike Tomlin said the bye comes at an opportune time for his team.

“It’s necessary, for sure,” he said.

A scare was thrown into the Steelers late in the first half when inside linebacker Devin Bush went to the ground with a leg injury. Bush had returned a fumble for a touchdown and had an interception that set up another score in the first quarter.

Bush got his leg wrapped and returned for the second half.

“It was minor,” Bush said. “At the time, it was interfering with my comfort. I had to get comfortable so they wrapped it.”

Because of Haden’s injury and Steve Nelson not making the trip with a groin injury, the Steelers finished with Cameron Sutton and Artie Burns as the outside cornerbacks. Anthony Chickillo, who missed the previous three games with a foot injury, spelled Watt after his departure.

Sutton sealed the win with an interception with 41 seconds left, and moments earlier, he recovered an onside kick attempt.

“He upheld a standard with his quality of play,” Tomlin said. “Not only on defense, but that onside kick recovery was a spectacular play.”

It was one of several big plays made by the backups. Quarterback Devlin Hodges won his first game as a starter, rookie running back Benny Snell rushed for a career-high 75 yards, Chickillo had a half-sack and Burns finished with six tackles and was awarded one of the game balls.

“We live by the creed, ‘The standard is the standard,’” Tomlin said. “But those are just words. The players, the guys, make that reality. I think we had a lot of quality efforts tonight from a lot of people.”