After initially being labeled as questionable, Steelers receiver Chase Claypool's hamstring injury will keep him out of Pittsburgh's Week 4 matchup in Green Bay against the Packers. Claypool missed Wednesday and Friday's practices and was limited on Thursday.
Claypool has caught 15 of 29 targets for 211 yards through three games. He caught nine of 15 targets for 96 yards during Pittsburgh's Week 3 loss to the Bengals. A 2020 second-round pick, Claypool caught 62 passes for 873 yards and nine touchdowns during his rookie season.
Pittsburgh's receiving corps will be without a key player for a second consecutive week. They played without Diontae Johnson during last Sunday's loss to Cincinnati. The Steelers' leading receiver in 2020, Johnson will face the Packers after being a full participant during Pittsburgh's last two practices.
Along with Claypool, defensive tackle Carlos Davis (knee) and right tackle Chukwuma Okorafor (concussion) will miss Sunday's game. Veteran Joe Haeg is slated to replace Okorafor in the starting lineup, with fellow tackle Zach Banner still working his way back from last season's knee injury.
The Steelers will also have outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith back in the lineup after both players missed last Sunday's game with groin injuries. Watt had three sacks in less than two games before he sustained his injury during Pittsburgh's Week 2 loss to Las Vegas.
With Claypool out, four-year veteran James Washington is slated to get more playing time against the Packers. The team's leading receiver in 2019, Washington has five catches for 30 yards this season. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has also leaned heavily on rookie running back Najee Harris in the passing game. Last Sunday, Harris caught a running back franchise record 14 passes for 102 yards.