Despite having his practice window opened this week, Pittsburgh Steelers DL Isaiahh Loudermilk has been downgraded to out and will not play for the Steelers in their Wild Card Round playoff matchup against the Houston Texans on Monday, per Steelers senior director of communications Burt Lauten.
Loudermilk practiced in a limited capacity on Friday and Saturday and was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report of the week. He suffered an injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks after playing just six snaps, and he started the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the New York Jets in place of Derrick Harmon but didn’t record a stat on a day where the defense struggled.
If he did play on Monday, Loudermilk would likely be more of a break glass option for the Steelers as depth along the defensive line. He could essentially take Logan Lee’s role upon his return, and Lee saw just one snap in the Steelers’ Week 18 win. There isn’t a clear path to playing time along the defensive line with Keeanu Benton, Cam Heyward and Derrick Harmon entrenched as starters and Yahya Black and Esezi Otomewo solidified as the team’s top depth options.
Loudermilk is the only player who was potentially who will not play for the Steelers on Monday, as the team is in a good spot health-wise ahead of their Wild Card Round matchup. Of course, for Loudermilk to return, the Steelers will need to beat the Texans on Monday Night to give him a chance to return for the divisional round.
A fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Loudermilk has been a depth piece along the defensive line for the Steelers, playing in 60 games and starting seven. He’s a much better run defender than pass rusher, and in his career, he’s registered 63 tackles and one sack with six passes defensed.
