Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner and center Maurkice Pouncey have been ruled out of the regular-season finale against the host Baltimore Ravens, the team announced Friday.
Conner on Sunday will miss his sixth game of the season after sustaining a quad injury during the second quarter of Pittsburgh’s 16-10 loss to the New York Jets last week.
The 24-year-old has rushed for 464 yards and four touchdowns on 116 carries this season. He also has 34 receptions for 251 yards and three scores. A year ago, Conner had 1,470 combined yards and 13 touchdowns while earning a Pro Bowl appearance.
Pouncey is nursing a knee injury sustained during the third quarter of last week’s game against the Jets.
Pittsburgh (8-7) can reach the playoffs with a win or a tie against the Ravens (13-2) and a loss by the Tennessee Titans (8-7) at the Houston Texans (10-5) on Sunday.
In a more complicated scenario, the Steelers can clinch the No. 6 seed in the AFC with a loss, a Titans loss and an Indianapolis Colts win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Oakland Raiders tie or loss at the Denver Broncos. Should the Titans lose, Colts win and Raiders win, then a tiebreaker between the Steelers and Raiders comes into play.
