Steelers Defensive Tackle Montravius Adams Status vs. Eagles Revealed - suong

The marathon of the NFL season is never without a litany of injuries, and the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t immune.

Heading into Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Steelers are staring down one of their toughest tests of the season. They’ll be without receiver George Pickens, safety DeShon Elliott, and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, each of whom have played critical roles to Pittsburgh’s operation in 2024.

However, the Steelers got good injury news, too, specifically regarding defensive tackle Montravius Adams.

Adams was activated off injured reserve ahead of Week 15. In a corresponding move, Pittsburgh placed swing tackle Calvin Anderson on injured reserve, ending his regular season.

Adams missed six games with a torn meniscus, which required surgery, per Nick Farabaugh. With full practices in each of the past two weeks, he’s ramped up enough to get the green light against the Eagles.

His return looms large for two reasons. First, Ogunjobi is missing this contest. He’s played 435 snaps compared to Adams’ 108, but their alignments were similar when the latter would step into his role. He’ll likely be the primary replacement for Ogunjobi on Sunday.

Further, Philadelphia’s offense demands teams perform well in the trenches. The “tush push” is hard to stop for any team, but if the Steelers are weak between the tackles, it'll become an additional point of emphasis. 

That only adds onto the stress that running back Saquon Barkley puts on an opposing defense. He’s already set the franchise record for rushing yards in a season, ripping off explosive plays left and right and ascending to another level late in games.

With a five-point spread for Sunday, there’s a real chance Week 15 comes down to the wire and is won on the margins. Adams’ ability to step in for Ogunjobi and provide physicality against the run could play an outsized role in deciding a critical cross-conference clash.