| RB Jonathan Dwyer will likely get his second starting assignment for the Steelers this Sunday against the Redskins. (US Presswire) |
RB Jonathan Dwyer's parents have seen him play in person in Steelers home games. But they've never seen him start an NFL game live.
They'll apparently get that opportunity Sunday.
Dwyer expects to make his second consecutive start when the Steelers host the Washington Redskins. Dwyer rushed for 122 yards in making his first NFL start in this past Sunday's 24-17 win at the Cincinnati Bengals.
That means Dwyer's parents, who regularly attend home games but were not present last week in Cincinnati, will get to see their son start.
"It feels good," Dwyer said. "They haven't missed a home game, so it just feels good to be able to play and things of that nature. And to start, I guess makes it bigger."
The erstwhile starter, RB Rashard Mendenhall, did not practice all week due to his Achilles injury and will miss his second consecutive game. The player who is purportedly No. 2 on the depth chart, Isaac Redman, is listed as questionable because of his right high-ankle sprain.
Redman didn't take an abundance of snaps with the first-team offense during Friday's practice, but Dwyer marveled at how much better Redman looked physically than he had earlier in the week. Redman said he was cutting at full speed without issue.
"I don't think I'll ever be 100 percent, but I feel like I'm ready to go," Redman said. "I feel like I can play. I'm ready."
Regardless of Redman's status, expect RB Chris Rainey to get some touches, and look for RB Baron Batch to also be involved; both have been contributors all season.
In other Steelers injury news, K Shaun Suisham was limited in practice all week due to an ankle ailment but expects to kick Sunday. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that, if Suisham is unable to perform for any reason, rookie P Drew Butler will handle place-kicking duties. Butler's father, Kevin, was a longtime NFL kicker, including playing for the Super Bowl XX champion Chicago Bears.
S Will Allen (ankle), C Maurkice Pouncey (knee), LB Jason Worilds (illness), LB Chris Carter (hamstring) and LB Adrian Robinson (concussion) are probable for Sunday. Reserve LB Brandon Johnson (hamstring) is out.
Follow Steelers reporter Chris Adamski on Twitter @CBSSteelers and @BuzzsawPGH.