The Pittsburgh Steelers were preparing as if DeAngelo Williams would be out.
He will be.
The Steelers ruled Williams out with a foot injury on Friday. If Pittsburgh wins in Cincinnati on Saturday, there is a chance the running back could play in the Divisional Round.
It's a big loss for Pittsburgh. Williams filled in nearly seamlessly for Le'Veon Bell this season. The veteran back finished with 907 yards on 200 totes and 11 rushing touchdowns. In the Week 14 tilt versus the Bengals, Williams galloped 76 yards on 23 carries and two scores.
Replacing Williams' production will be difficult. Fitzgerald Toussaint is expected to get the start with Jordan Todman seeing snaps as a backup. Taking over for the injured Williams in Week 17, Toussaint earned 24 rushing yards on 12 carries (2.0 yards per carry). The 25-year-old back from Michigan had just 12 career carries entering Week 17.
It marks the third straight playoff game the Steelers will be without their leading rusher: 2014 wild card vs. Baltimore, Le'Veon Bell (knee); 2011 wild card at Denver, Rashard Mendenhall (knee).
NFL Media's Aditi Kinkhabwala said Friday morning on NFL Network's NFL HQ that the feeling around the Steelers' facility is different than it was a year ago when Bell was out.
"(Toussaint) understands the offense, knows what he's doing. There is a lot of confidence here," she said.
Ben Roethlisberger has yet to broach the 300-yard passing mark versus the Bengals this season. With Williams out, he's going to have to get over that plateau if the Steelers are to move on this postseason.
