Tyson Alualu, Diontae Johnson further in-game injury casualties for Steelers in loss

The day began with the news that two depended-on starters on defense weren’t going to play in the home opener for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The biggest news of the day, aside from the deflating loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, was that star outside linebacker T.J. Watt was injured late in the second half and didn’t return.

But a pair of other Steelers starters likewise didn’t make it through Sunday’s 26-17 defeat. One is in danger of missing the rest of the season. Defensive lineman Tyson Alualu suffered an ankle fracture on the Steelers’ fourth defensive snap from scrimmage.

“Obviously,” coach Mike Tomlin said, “he will be down for an extended period of time.”

There were fewer details about a knee injury suffered by wide receiver Diontae Johnson on the game’s final play. Johnson was attempting to lunge out of bounds in the final seconds. He was attended to by medical personnel as both teams walked out onto the playing field to greet each other.

Johnson walked off on his own power but was heavily favoring a leg.

Johnson had missed a handful of first-half snaps while dealing with an apparent undisclosed injury.

The Steelers have depth at wide receiver with their No. 4 at the position, James Washington.

The Steelers began training camp with great depth on the defensive line, too, but starter Stephon Tuitt is on injured reserve and second-year tackle Carlos Davis missed Sunday’s game because of a knee injury.

The Steelers played most of Sunday’s game with only four defensive linemen: Cameron Heyward, Chris Wormley, Isaiah Buggs and rookie Isaiah Loudermilk. Loudermilk made his NFL debut and had one assisted tackle.

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