Report: Amari Cooper listed as questionable vs. Steelers with groin injury
The Cleveland Browns could be without their top pass-catcher when they face division rival Pittsburgh on Monday night.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper aggravated a pre-existing groin injury during practice this week and his status for the Steelers game is now in question. Here was the news as tweeted Sunday morning by Schefter:
“Browns’ WR Amari Cooper, who aggravated a groin injury at practice Saturday and is listed as questionable for Monday night, is considered unlikely to play vs. the Steelers, per source.”
Steelers WR Johnson also out, awaiting designation
Kickoff for the Steelers‘ matchup against the Cleveland Browns is still a day away, which is probably why Pittsburgh has yet to make a decision on wide receiver Diontae Johnson‘s injury designation this week. Johnson suffered a hamstring injury in the Week 1 loss to the 49ers, and reports indicate he could miss several weeks.
Adam Schefter reported that Johnson will be out a “few weeks.” Schefter quoted a source, however, he did not identify it.
If a few weeks ends up being more than four, the Steelers could move one of their most productive players to the Injured Reserve. The delay in moving him to IR could be because the game is still days away, or because they don’t intend to designate him for IR at all. Within the next four weeks, Pittsburgh plays Cleveland, Las Vegas, Houston and Baltimore.
Regardless of his designation, the Steelers are preparing to play without Johnson on Monday night.
“All of our wideouts are going to have their roles are going to increase,” offensive coordinator Matt Canada said on Thursday. “That’s going to be part of the deal. Calvin (Austin), (it was) his first game, he made some plays, did some things, so all guys have to step up. Obviously, Diontae is a big part of our offense. So it’s not just gonna be one guy.”
Johnson is in his fifth season in the NFL — having spent all of them with the Steelers. He’s hauled in 340 receptions for 3,646 yards and 20 touchdowns in 64 games (56 starts). Johnson paced all Steelers pass-catchers this past season in receptions (86) and yards (882). He notably hauled in zero touchdowns after bringing in eight the previous season.
With no Johnson for Pittsburgh and now likely no Cooper for Cleveland, the jobs for quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Deshaun Watson just became much tougher. Perhaps we’ll all be in for a good ole fashioned AFC North defensive showdown.