Several prominent Steelers players will be held out of tonight’s game as the Black and Gold make their 2015 debut against the Minnesota Vikings in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.
On offense, the Steelers will play without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and wide receivers Martavis Bryant, Darius Heyward-Bey and Markus Wheaton. Third-year backup Landry Jones is expected to start at quarterback.
Wide reciver Antonio Brown, center Maurkice Pouncey and running back Le’Veon Bell, who were not expected to play tonight, are in uniform but it remains to be seen if they will participate.
Defensively, safeties Robert Golden, Mike Mitchell, Shamarko Thomas and Ross Ventrone, cornerback Cortez Allen, linebackers James Harrison, Jarvis Jones and Vince Williams and nose tackle Daniel McCullers will all sit out the first of five preseason contests.
Rookie cornerback Senquez Golson, backup offensive tackle Mike Adams and backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski are all still on the physically unable to perform list and will not play.
Several members of the Steelers’ 2015 draft class will be thrust into larger roles with the absence of so many veterans, including Bud Dupree, who will start at outside linebacker, Sammie Coates, who figures to get plenty of playing time at wide receiver, and Gerrod Holliman, who is one of only five safeties dressed.
Meanwhile, eight Minnesota Vikings players did not make the trip to Canton.
The following #Vikings did not travel:
8 G. Lutman
21 J. Robinson
55 A. Barr
61 J. Berger
66 D. Yankey
90 B.J. Dubose
95 S. Crichton
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 9, 2015
Al Mansour of KFAN reported that the Vikings starters will play 8-12 snaps and that starting running back Adrian Peterson will not play.
No Barr, Berger, Yankey, Peterson, Dubose for #Vikings tonight. Hodges to start at MLB and McKinnon at RB. #HOFGame
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) August 9, 2015
Tonight’s kickoff is at 8:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast nationally on NBC and locally on WDVE-FM and the Steelers Radio Network.
The Steelers last appeared in the Hall of Fame Game in 2007, when they defeated the New Orleans Saints in 2007.
Photo credit: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
