(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
According to Mike Garafolo and Aditi Kinkwabwala of the NFL Network, initial tests on Bud Dupree indicate a torn ACL. Tests are coming to confirm but the team expects Dupree to be done for the reason. Dupree suffered the injury late in the fourth quarter. Dupree had eight sacks this year and had two tackles for a loss in the Steelers' win over the Baltimore Ravens.
Dupree is playing on the franchise tag and is scheduled to be a free agent in 2021. Losing Dupree for the season is a big blow to the Steelers, as Dupree is second on the team in sacks with eight and is a leader in the locker room. Dupree and T.J. Watt have combined for 17.5 sacks this season, which is the most combined sacks by teammates in the league.
Rookie third-round pick Alex Highsmith will have to step up in the absence of Dupree.
JuJu Smith-Schuster said the locker room was really quiet after the game because of Dupree's injury.
"I think it was very quiet, very sad, very low, just because having our fellow teammate going down, Bud, and not knowing what's going on over there," Smith-Schuster said. "But that's something that, you always pray for everybody to be safe and have a healthy game.”
Gerry Dulac of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirmed that Dupree tore his ACL and will be out for the rest of the season.
"Bud got hurt. He is being evaluated," Mike Tomlin said after the game. "I am sure we will have an update for you tomorrow."