Hines Ward suffered benched-like symptoms during Pittsburgh’s win against the Bengals.
Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes that Ward was not on the field in three receiver sets. Instead, it was Jerricho Cotchery who caught four passes and scored a touchdown.
Ward caught his only pass for four yards.
Perhaps the Steelers were playing it safe with Ward heading into the bye. But anyone that has watched Ward this season has to admit his knees look shot and he simply hasn’t been effective. When Emmanuel Sanders returns, Ward might fall to fifth on the depth chart.
Ward is due $4 million next season. It wouldn’t be surprising if this winds up being his last season in Pittsburgh, and quite possibly in the NFL.