Michael Pittman Expected to Play Sunday, But the Steelers Offense is Still on Thin Ice

The NFL's questionable tag is basically just a suggestion at this point. According to Adam Schefter, Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman is expected to play Sunday against the Bengals despite nursing a foot injury all week.

This is massive news for a Pittsburgh offense that looked completely broken without him. When Pittman sat out Week 2, the Steelers managed a grand total of three points in a miserable 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots.

"Adam Schefter reported that Pittman is expected to play versus the Bengals."

Even though his Week 1 stat line of three catches for 58 yards does not sound like video game numbers, it was enough to lead the team in receiving. He also ran the second-most routes on the squad, proving he is the undisputed engine of this passing attack.

Now he has to face a Cincinnati Bengals defense coming off a dominant 20-6 win over the Houston Texans. Bettors eyeing Pittman's receiving props need to remember he was limited in practice on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Trusting a receiver with a bad foot is like buying a used car with the check engine light on. Sure, it might get you down the field, but you are sweating every time he has to plant and cut.

Pittman also has a lengthy medical file that includes a history of lower-body issues, so the risk of aggravation is very real.

We will see exactly how much burst he actually has when the game kicks off Sunday evening. If Pittman is just out there running decoy routes, Pittsburgh is going to have a very long afternoon trying to keep pace with Cincinnati.