It looks like JuJu Smith-Schuster is going to give it a go Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the New Orleans Saints.
Teammate Ramon Foster said Smith-Schuster went through the team’s walkthrough on Friday, and fellow receiver Antonio Brown told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler he thought Smith-Schuster will “be there for us” on the field Sunday.
Smith-Schuster suffered a groin injury on Thursday, and those have a tendency to linger, especially if they get aggravated after the initial pull.
The Steelers are in an interesting spot, however. They need Smith-Schuster if they’re going to make a deep run in the playoffs, but they also likely need him if they have any hope of actually getting in to begin with.
Pittsburgh is just one-half game ahead of Baltimore for the AFC North crown, and the wild-card situation in the AFC is quite fluid, too. They’ll need to win out to ensure they do get into the playoffs, and of course the Saints are a formidable opponent even at full strength.
Smith-Schuster is the team’s leading receiver this season. Through 14 games he’s hauled in 95 passes for 1,274 yards and six touchdowns.
For what it’s worth, we’re picking the Steelers to upset the Saints, regardless of Smith-Schuster’s status.