<
        >

          Antonio Brown not expected to be ready if Steelers must play wild-card weekend

          play
          Brown to remain sidelined for wild-card round (0:54)

          Adam Schefter reports that Antonio Brown is expected to be out with a calf injury for the wild-card round, which puts pressure on the Steelers to seal a first-round bye. (0:54)

          • Adam Schefter, ESPN Senior WriterDec 24, 2017, 06:39 AM ET
            Close
            • ESPN NFL Insider
            • Joined ESPN in 2009
            • Former president of the Pro Football Writers of America and the author of four books
            Follow on X

          Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Antonio Brown is not expected to be ready for the wild-card round of the playoffs, a league source told ESPN.

          If Pittsburgh wants to enhance its chances of having Brown for the start of its playoff run, the Steelers would have to clinch a bye for the wild-card round.

          The Steelers are vying for one of the AFC's two top seeds, which would carry a bye and an extra week of rest for Brown and the rest of the players.

          Brown suffered a partially torn calf muscle in Week 15 against the New England Patriots. The Steelers already have ruled him out for their game Monday against the Houston Texans.