Pundits have argued the Pittsburgh Steelers defense could have an advantage facing the injury-ridden Los Angeles Chargers offensive line in Week 10. But the Steelers will also have an absence along their offensive line with Isaac Seumalo.
The team announced Friday the starting left guard will not play against the Chargers. Seumalo is out with a pectoral injury.
Spencer Anderson will start at left guard in his place.
Seumalo is the most experienced starter along the Steelers offensive line this year. The other four Pittsburgh linemen are either in their first or second full year as a starter at their position.
The good news is Anderson has played more than the average sixth offensive lineman around the league. The Steelers have utilized Anderson in heavy packages to establish their running game this season.
But with Anderson starting at left guard, the Steelers may not have the heavy package as a formation option in Week 10.
“First time Pittsburgh has had different starting 5 combo this year (though Anderson has finished out last two games),” wrote Steelers Depot’s Alex Kozora .
“If Pittsburgh uses 6th OL again, it’ll be someone else.”
The Steelers will face the Chargers on Sunday Night Football in Los Angeles on November 9.
Steelers’ Isaac Seumalo Out for Chargers Matchup
The 32-year-old suffered his pectoral injury against the Green Bay Packers during Week 8. While Seumalo started against versus the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9, he left the contest with the same injury.
During both contests, the Steelers inserted Anderson at left guard with Seumalo sidelined. That left the offense unable to utilize its formation with an extra offensive lineman and tight end Darnell Washington .
The Steelers started using that formation in Week 4. From Weeks 4-7, the team averaged 126 rushing yards per game.
Over the past two weeks with Anderson playing part of the time at left guard, the Steelers have posted 65.5 rushing yards per contest.
Seumalo didn’t practice all week. So, perhaps Anderson will be more prepared to concentrate on left guard in Week 10. The Steelers also had the week to practice with a new depth lineman taking snaps in the team’s heavy package.
But through the first half of 2025, the Steelers just simply haven’t been very consistent on the ground without the jumbo set. Against the Chargers, it could be harder to use that formation without Seumalo.
As a sixth lineman, Anderson technically started in Week 6 versus the Cleveland Browns . Anderson also started four contests last year.
Steelers Rule Out Three Other Players With Seumalo
Mike Tomlin’s club had a rather full injury report Friday. While some players on the report were veterans who received rest days throughout the week, the team also ruled out three other players for Week 10 besides Seumalo.
Wide receiver Scotty Miller , safety Jabrill Peppers and linebacker Cole Holcomb will all miss a second consecutive game. Miller is out because of a broken finger while Peppers is dealing with a quad issue.
Holcomb will sit out another game because of an illness. None of those three players practiced this week.
The Steelers listed both quarterback Will Howard and cornerback Cory Trice Jr. as questionable on Friday. Trice didn’t practice at all while Howard was a full participant all week.
If the Steelers want either to be available Sunday night, they will have to activate them from injured reserve.
Howard and Trice are the only two Steelers carrying injury designations for the Week 10 matchup.
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