Steelers: Bud Dupree is an injury Pittsburgh can’t afford

The Steelers were well on their way to 11-0, and the Bud Dupree got hurt.

The Steelers linebacking corps already lost Devin Bush earlier this season. In a game that already posted a befuddling close result on the scoreboard, the Steelers may have suffered a major loss on defense.

Already playing on the franchise tag, Bud Dupree was well on his way to a long-term deal, either with the Steelers or elsewhere. Dupree has backed up a solid 2019 with an arguably better 2020, but that all came to a screeching halt with an injury scare on Wednesday afternoon.

If Dupree is injured long-term, the Steelers won’t be able to replace him

The Steelers have already had a tough time replacing Bush, but trading for Avery Williamson helped matters. There is no clear option on the roster to play in place of Dupree, as the Steelers went into the season with a thin linebacking corps.

There was a question as to whether the Steelers and Ravens would even play this week. Wednesday afternoon is a curious time for a football game, but this rivalry contest was a must from the NFL’s perspective as they aim to play as many games between competitive teams as possible late in the season.

The Steelers are on their quest for an undefeated season, while the Ravens are well within the playoff chase themselves. Surprisingly, this was an instant classic, albeit an ugly one.