The Steelers starting defense is fully healthy heading into Monday's game against the Texans.

Analysis: The return of Joe Haden from a broken leg puts Pittsburgh back at full health defensively, but considering that they face the Texans this week it may not even matter. Houston has committed the fourth-most turnover in the NFL (25) and will start T.J. Yates under center, who didn't even begin the season on the team's 53-man roster. The Texans have averaged only 13 points per game over the last four weeks, and the Steelers will hope to return their defense to the dominant form they illustrated…read more

Cornerbacks Joe Haden (leg) and Coty Sensabaugh (shoulder) are both listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Analysis: Haden is coming back from a broken leg and may be on a limited snap count regardless, so the Steelers can ill afford another injury in the secondary as they face Tom Brady and the Patriots. The New England struggled against the Dolphins last week, but with tight end Rob Gronkowski returning from suspension that shouldn't be expected to become a trend. Gronk has eaten Pittsburgh alive over the last few years, and the team doesn't appear to have a clear solution to slowing him down. The Steelers…read more

The Steelers rank fifth in the NFL in scoring defense giving up just 17.8 PPG.

Analysis: Pittsburgh will have the tough task of trying to shift its attention away from the scary incident that marred Monday's win over the Bengals in which Ryan Shazier suffered a potentially serious neck injury and begin focusing on the Ravens offense this week. While it won't be easy, the Steelers know what's at stake with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs potentially on the line. This game figures to feature a close game given the nature of the rivalry between these two teams. However,…read more

CB Joe Haden (upper leg) is out and FS Mike Mitchell (ankle) is doubtful for Monday's game against the Bengals.

Analysis: With two starting secondary members likely out, the Steelers are giving the Bengals worst-ranked offense a better chance at making an impact. Still, the Steelers defense should be ready to bounce back from Week 12's performance, where they let up a season-high 28 points to the Packers offense. The Bengals should provide ample opportunities for that to happen, since they've given up 17 turnovers over 11 games, even though they've coughed it up just twice in their last four matchups, and the…read more

Safety Mike Mitchell is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers with an ankle injury.

Analysis: The Steelers defense has been a model of consistency this season, and has not allowed more than 17 points in each of their past five games. They have another favorable matchup this week against a Packers offense which is led by inexperienced QB Brett Hundley, who has eight turnovers in five games since taking over for Aaron Rodgers (collarbone), and is coming off a three-interception performance. The Packers depleted running back situation plays in Pittsburgh's favor as well, and the Steelers…read more

Safety Mike Mitchell (ankle) is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game against the Titans after practicing in a limited fashion Tuesday and Wednesday.

Analysis: Ordinarily the loss of Mitchell would hurt the Steelers but not be overly debilitating, but with starting cornerback Joe Haden breaking his fibula in last Sunday's win over the Colts, the secondary will already be below full strength. Regardless, Pittsburgh's defense has looked more like the a typical Steelers defense in 2017, as they rank second in points per game (16.4), second in total yards (284.4) and pass yards (181.8), and tied for second in sacks (29). The Titans offense has had an…read more

Steelers linebacker James Harrison is dealing with a back injury as Sunday's game against Indianapolis inches closer.

Analysis: While Harrison hasn't been the dominant force of old, he has surprisingly put a hold on father time and remained a valuable asset to the Pittsburgh defense during his 15th season. Without Harrison, the Steelers would remain predominantly on rookie outside linebacker T.J. Watt for the majority of the game which is something the standout youngster has proven capable of doing. This might not be the Steel Curtain from yesteryear, but this defense still has a lot of life to it. Over their last three…read more

Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Detroit.

Analysis: Pittsburgh has won three of their last four contests thanks in large part to its defense. In each of the team's last three wins, Pittsburgh has kept opponents to 14 or fewer points. Through Week 7, the Steelers rank third in scoring defense (16.6 PPG) and second in yards allowed per game (258.7). Detroit has a potent offense, but Pittsburgh's defense has been rolling as of late. It's unlikely the Steelers will shut down Matt Stafford and company, but the team should force a turnover or two when…read more

DE Stephon Tuitt (back) did not practice this week and will not play against the Bengals on Sunday.

Analysis: The good news is that the rest of the Steelers' defense looks to be healthy, but Tyson Alualu will likely need to fill in at defensive end. Pittsburgh is allowing only 17 points per game this season and is coming off a fantastic performance in which they held one of the hottest offenses in football (Kansas City Chiefs) to only 13 points. Meanwhile the Bengals feature the third-worst offense in the NFL, averaging only 16.8 points per game. Cincinnati mainly struggles in the run game but they…read more

Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (quadriceps) is considered questionable for Sunday's tilt with the Chiefs.

Analysis: The Pittsburgh defense was put in a tough spot last week given the offense struggles. It's unlikely the offense will put them in a bad spot time after time in Week 6, but the defense still has its fair share of problems. Despite all the points conceded, Sunday's biggest dilemma is who is on the other side of the ball. The Chiefs have one of the most potent offense we've seen so far in 2017. Alex Smith seems like he has reinvented his game and Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill can take it the house…read more

Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

Analysis: Shazier's availability might not seem like the most important concern on the surface, but there's more to it than the average eye can see. Allow us to explain. Shazier operates as one of the team's best tacklers and is a key cog in the run defense. Meanwhile, the Jags have made it a top priority to establish and maintain a strong rushing attack through a quarter of the season. Pairing the two together, there's reason for cautious concern from Pittsburgh point of view. With that being said, it's…read more

Steelers safety Mike Mitchell (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's tilt with the Ravens.

Analysis: What is usually a slugfest could wind up being one of the highest scoring games across the league this week. These two teams have developed a culture of closely fought defensive battles through the years, but the two teams seem built more on the offensive side of the ball in 2017. Last week was an abysmal showing by Baltimore, and they chances they'll replicate a 44-7 defeat against their biggest foe seem rather slim. Pittsburgh's defense has been good, not great this year. But, with the Ravens…read more

Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt (biceps) is considered questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears.

Analysis: The Steelers draw a favorable matchup in Week 3 when they head to Chicago. The Bears offense is averaging just 12.0 PPG and has turned the ball over three times through eight quarters. The Bears did open up well against Atlanta at home, but the Steelers defense seems to be hitting its stride at the right time and should control the line of scrimmage Sunday.

Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Analysis: Dupree was missed during Week 1's win over the Browns as the Steelers let rookie DeShone Kizer have his way offensively. Cleveland, to nearly everyone's surprise, had a real chance to win last Sunday's game. The Steelers relied heavily on the shoulders of rookie T.J. Watt to pull this one out. Week 2 figures to showcase a much tougher opponent with Minnesota coming to town. The vikings offense looked impenetrable during the team's season opener. The Steelers will have their hands full with Sam…read more

Pittsburgh finished last season ranked No. 10 in points allowed per game (20.4 PPG).

Analysis: The Steel Curtain seems like it's returning to its old form. Newly acquired rookie T.J. Watt should fit right in alongside the likes of veterans Ryan Shazier and Bud Dupree. Pittsburgh draws Cleveland in Week 1. That sentence alone should be enough warrant playing them, but let's provide a little more context. The Browns are going to trot out rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer on Sunday. The only drawback to this scenario is that we've yet to see Kizer play an NFL game, but history tells us to…read more

Steelers LB Ryan Shazier (hamstring) is practicing in a limited capacity.

Analysis: Shazier injured his hamstring early on in training camp and missed almost two weeks of practice. He almost certainly won't be allowed to play in any preseason game at this point, but a return for Week 1 is still very much possible. If he isn't back in time, the Steelers defense could have some problems trying to defend the run against the Browns' top-notch offensive line.

Entering training camp with a near-fully healthy roster.

Analysis: Pittsburgh has yet to announce a single defender that is beginning training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform or Non-Football Injury lists. Aside from a few small injuries or players in the final stages of recovery, the Steelers are currently standing at full strength on the defensive side of the ball. They ranked in the top half of the league in every major defensive category in 2016. Though they were far from the defensive powerhouse they were a few years ago, they were still a quality…read more

Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (pectoral) is expected to return to full health by the start of the 2017 season.

Analysis: Heyward has unofficially been the leader of the Steelers' defense since 2014 and having him healthy means there isn't really any glaring weakness in the starting roster. He, along with Stephon Tuitt and Javon Hargrave, will hold down the defensive line, while Bud Dupree, Ryan Shazier and Vince Williams represent one of the most intimidating linebacking units in the NFL. With 2016 first-rounder Artie Burns leading an ascending secondary that also includes 2016 second-rounder Sean Davis as well…read more

Pittsburgh draws a matchup with the Browns in Week 17.

Analysis: The Steelers have locked up the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs and may look to rest some of their players battling injuries, such as safety Robert Golden (ankle) and defensive end Stephen Tuitt (knee), both of whom are currently questionable for Sunday. Cleveland is coming off of their fist win of the season but they are still the second worst offense in the NFL in terms of yards and points per game. Regardless of if Pittsburgh rests or limits some players, the matchup makes them a quality…read more

Steelers defensive ends Stephon Tuitt (knee) and Ricardo Mathews (ankle) are questionable for Sunday's game against the Ravens.

Analysis: Tuitt and Mathews missed practice time throughout the week and are in danger of missing the game Sunday or being limited in their efforts, which could leave the Steelers with just one healthy defensive end and three healthy defensive lineman. Fortunately, Baltimore has been one of the worst rushing units in the NFL this season and has been little better than average in the passing game. If Tuitt and Mathews play the Steelers become a much more appealing option, but, with their statuses unknown,…read more

Steelers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (head) remains questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Analysis: Hargrave originally injured his head during last week's win over the Giants, but he still remains under the league's concussion protocol. While Hargrave has been a solid contributor all season long, the Steelers may not be too far off without him. As a unit, Pittsburgh's defense has held opponents to 10.0 PPG over the last three games. Assuming they can avoid any hangovers, the Steelers should take care of the Bills rather easily this weekend, especially as the AFC North race tightens up.

The Steelers' Week 12 opponent, Indianapolis, has surrendered 35 sacks so far this season, the second-highest total in the league.

Analysis: The Colts have struggled to protect quarterback Andrew Luck all season, and that doesn't figure to change any time soon. Even though Indianapolis possesses one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL when firing on all cylinders, their susceptibility to allowing quarterback pressure makes the Steelers D/ST a hit-or-miss fantasy option in Week 12.

Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward (pectoral) was placed on injured reserve Saturday.

Analysis: Heyward is not only the Steelers' defensive captain, but also its sack-leader. Consequently, his loss will certainly have an adverse impact on the effectiveness of the Pittsburgh D/ST. Second-year OLB Bud Dupree was activated off injured reserve the same day and will be needed to keep the Steelers' pass rush afloat.

Steelers linebacker James Harrison had five tackles, including two sacks, and a forced fumble in last week's 21-14 loss to the Ravens.

Analysis: Harrison's two sacks in Week 9 were the 38 year-old's first on the season. The Steelers got to Joe Flacco three times last week but still are tied for worst in the league in sacks with just 11 on the season. This year they've been one of the worst defenses in the league and could struggle mightily when the host the NFL's best rushing attack when they play Dallas on Sunday. Consider Pittsburgh as a low tier option in all formats this week.

Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons led the team with 11 tackles, all of which were solo, in last week's 27-16 loss to New England.

Analysis: The Steelers defense has allowed 27 points or more in all of their losses and 16 or less points in each of their wins. Every active defensive player is active entering Week 9 against the Ravens, who rank 25th in yards per game this season. Though they've struggled with consistency, the Steelers are poised for a strong defensive showing in Week 9.

Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Analysis: Shazier's health is a top priority for the Steelers as Sunday looms. The Dolphins have struggled to establish a running game in the early portion of the season, but Shazier's absence could open up some lanes at the second level. Although consistency has been a problem, the Steelers defense has pieced together back-to-back strong outings against the Chiefs and Jets. Assuming both of these teams show up with their true identities Sunday, Pittsburgh is a strong play this week.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense draws a Week 5 home matchup against the New York Jets.

Analysis: As a clear home favorite facing a quarterback who's thrown nine interceptions the past two weeks, the Pittsburgh D/ST makes for a strong Week 5 option, despite dealing with a mounting pile of injuries, most notably to inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (out-knee). This matchup is just too good to pass up, especially with the Jets missing wide receiver Eric Decker (out-shoulder) for a second straight week.

Steelers linebacker Vince Williams recorded 16 tackles during Pittsburgh's blowout win over the Chiefs on Monday.

Analysis: It almost felt like Williams was in on every tackle for the Steelers on Monday. His strong outing came out of nowhere considering he tallied just five total tackles across the team's first three games. Cameron Heyward also stood out on the defensive side of the ball with his three sacks. All in all, coach Mike Tomlin's bunch turned in a promising performance Monday. It's good to see the Steeler's show some character after last week's embarrassing loss to the Eagles. Next up is a date with the…read more

Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier has tallied a team-high 18 tackles through the first two games of the season.

Analysis: Pittsburgh's defense has truly morphed around the play the Shazier over the past several seasons. Much of what the Steelers try to do systematically on defense revolves around the 24-year-old. Given his and the team's reliability, the Steelers are typically a pretty safe choice for a team defense week-to-week. However, next up is an in-state showdown with an Eagles offense that has blossomed nicely in its first two games of 2016.

Analysis: Coming off a strong Week 1 showing in Washington, the Pittsburgh defense is back home for the second game of the season, though Andy Dalton and the Bengals should provide a difficult test. The front seven appears to be stronger than in recent seasons, but Pittsburgh's secondary may have a tough time handling Bengals wideout A.J. Green, who caught 17 passes for 250 yards and a pair of touchdowns in two games against the Steelers last season. The Steelers are at least worth a look in deeper…read more

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense finished the 2015 season ranked 11th in points allowed (19.9 per game), T-3rd in takeaways (30) and third in sacks (48).

Analysis: A shaky defense was supposed to be this team's weakness, but it was ultimately injuries on the offensive side that proved to be the Steelers' undoing. Even though a weak cornerback group surrendered some big games to opposing passing attacks, the Pittsburgh defense largely played well above expectations. The team doesn't have enough cap room to make significant additions in free agency, but it should be able to retain most of the core players on both sides of the ball. The Steelers are also…read more

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense does not have any players listed as questionable, doubtful or out for Saturday's playoff game against the Bengals.

Analysis: Pittsburgh's secondary remains highly vulnerable, but the unit as a whole had a pretty good season, ranking third in the NFL in both takeaways (30) and sacks (48). Of course, only two teams surrendered more passing yards, so Bengals quarterback A.J. McCarron should have plenty of opportunities to pick up big chunks of yardage. The Steelers allowed just 36 points in their two games against Cincinnati during the regular season.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has a Week 14 home matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Analysis: The Steelers defense has been better than expected, and it does have home-field advantage this week, but it would still appear that the Cincinnati offense has the upper hand in this matchup. Few units have been as consistently effective as the Bengals offense, so the Steelers defense should probably be viewed as a bottom-12 option for Week 14.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has a Week 13 home matchup with the Indianapolis Colts offense.

Analysis: Shredded by Russell Wilson in Week 12, the Pittsburgh defense will return to its home field for a somewhat more favorable matchup. However, the Colts have actually been more effective with Matt Hasselbeck under center this season, including last week's strong performance against a previously red-hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Given the constant issues on the back end, the Pittsburgh defense is only a decent option in deeper formats.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.

Analysis: Shazier was listed as a full practice participant Friday, but the official questionable designation makes it so that his Week 12 status must still be verified in advance of Sunday's 4:25 ET kickoff. The starting inside linebacke remains a key cog in the Steelers' defense, having notched 47 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles in six games to date.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense has a Week 11 bye, followed by a Week 12 road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

Analysis: The remaining schedule looks pretty tough until Week 17 (at CLE), but the Pittsburgh defense has actually been surprisingly solid this season, albeit with a vulnerability to giving up big plays through the air. There are a few remaining matchups in which the unit could warrant streaming consideration, but this certainly isn't a defense that needs to be owned during its bye week.