Browns vs. Steelers NFL Week 18 injury report, odds: Denzel Ward, Jack Conklin questionable as Pittsburgh needs win for wild card playoff scenario

The Pittsburgh Steelers have never had a losing campaign under head coach Mike Tomlin. His streak of 15 consecutive seasons without one is the longest by a head coach to begin a career in league history. The only way the Steelers (8-8) earn a wild card spot for a third straight year is if the trend continues with a victory over the visiting Browns on Sunday. Cleveland could be without a Pro Bowler on each side of the ball in cornerback Denzel Ward and offensive tackle Jack Conklin. Pittsburgh is -2.5 at Caesars Sportsbook.

Tomlin's team would be the No. 7 seed with a victory and losses by Miami at home to the Jets (the Dolphins are currently short underdogs as they may have to start third-string rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson) and a loss by New England in Buffalo – and the Bills' motivation and frame of mind are obviously up in the air. The Patriots are currently 7-point underdogs, but that number has been dropping.

DraftKings gives Pittsburgh odds of +350 to make the playoffs and -500 to miss. The Steelers can become the second team in history to make the postseason after a 3-7 or worse start through 10 games. Washington accomplished the feat in 2020. Jacksonville also could also do so this weekend.

Pittsburgh lost 29-17 in Week 3 in Cleveland, but the starting QB matchup then was Mitch Trubisky against Jacoby Brissett, and neither of them should see the field Sunday barring injury to Kenny Pickett or Deshaun Watson, respectively.

Pickett has just one interception in his past seven games and has become the first rookie in NFL history with a game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute of back-to-back games. On New Year's Eve, he hit Najee Harris on a 10-yard TD pass with 56 seconds left to beat Baltimore 16-13, and on Christmas Eve he threw a 14-yard TD pass to George Pickens with 46 seconds to go to beat Las Vegas 13-10.

Cleveland has lost 18 straight regular-season games in Pittsburgh – it did win a playoff game there following the 2020 campaign – and could be without both Conklin and Ward due to injury. Neither has practiced this week through Thursday, with Conklin (ankle) not even at practice and Ward (shoulder) working on the stationary bike with the media present.

James Hudson would fill in at right tackle if Conklin is sidelined. Ward has 41 tackles, 14 passes defended and three picks this year. He played in the first meeting with five tackles, two passes defended and a fumble recovered. 

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