The story of the first half of Sunday’s game between the Steelers and Packers is injuries.
Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson and Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey were the first two players to depart the contest so that they could receive medical attention, but each of them soon had some company.
Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt injured his ankle when one of his teammates collided with him while Tuitt was trying to make a tackle on Packers running back Eddie Lacy. Tuitt returned to the locker room on a cart, as did Pouncey, and the Steelers have announced that he will not return to the game.
Things got worse for the Steelers on the injury front when backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski emerged from trying to recover a fumble during a scrum with an apparent injury to his hand or arm. Gradkowski went back to the locker room before the first half came to an end and the Steelers announced he has a left finger injury, which likely means Landry Jones will be at quarterback whenever the Steelers return to the field.
Packers guard T.J. Lang didn’t need a cart, but he’s also unlikely to return to the game now that both sides have started moving reserves into the lineup. It’s not clear what kind of injury Lang suffered, but he remained down on one knee for several moments after a James Starks run and eventually returned to the locker room as well.
Both starting offenses had moments of success before giving way to the backups and both pass rushes made plays to keep them from putting up points, but the results of tests on the injured players will likely determine whether the day was a success for the Packers and Steelers.