Pittsburgh Steelers: What We've Learned Through Week 4 of Preseason

The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to play their fourth preseason game of the summer, which means their September 10 regular-season opener is almost upon us. But preparations to get to that point aren't slowing down, and with the number of crises the Steelers are dealing with, there's also no shortage of news to discuss.

Here's what we've learned as the Steelers march toward their Week 4 preseason contest against the Buffalo Bills. 

Martavis Bryant Suspended 4 Games

The Steelers were already preparing for life without starting running back Le'Veon Bell for the first two games of the season, with Bell having been suspended for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.

Now, they have even less time to prepare for yet another suspension, this time a four-game ban for receiver Martavis Bryant, who also violated the substance abuse policy. The suspension was initially reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Bryant was a breakout player for the Steelers last year, totaling 549 yards ands eight touchdowns on 26 receptions over the final 10 games of the season. He was expected to take another leap forward this year, but the four-game suspension could eat into that prediction.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo noted on Thursday that the Steelers "were blindsided" when given word of Bryant's suspension. Now, they have to get Darrius Heyward-Bey and rookie Sammie Coates ready to take on larger roles on the offense for the first four weeks.

It's going to be rough to be without Bryant for four games; add into that Bell's two-game suspension, and the Steelers offense has taken a big hit over the summer.

Steelers Sign QB Michael Vick; Bruce Gradkowski to IR

Keith Srakocic/Associated Press

The Steelers' No. 2 quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski, spent most of the team's training camp on the physically unable to perform list with a shoulder injury. He did get activated in time to play in the team's third preseason game, against the Green Bay Packers, but he aggravated his shoulder injury and also hurt his hand.

Though the Steelers also have quarterback Landry Jones on the roster, he's yet to even suit up in a regular-season game, let alone play any snaps. In order to add experience to the position behind starter Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers signed veteran free agent Michael Vick, sending Gradkowski to injured reserve.

The goal is to not see Vick play a single series in the regular season and for Roethlisberger to notch his third straight year completing all 16 games. Vick has embraced the role of a backup quarterback this year and is looking forward to working behind Roethlisberger, saying to the team's official site, "It's just an honor to be able to sit back and watch a future Hall of Famer work every day. I can learn a lot from him. He leads by example."

Vick most likely won't play at all against the Bills on Saturday as he is still learning the offense. But he will be ready when called upon, saying, "Whatever Coach [Mike Tomlin] decides. If he's comfortable with me getting back out there then yeah, I'm all for it. If not, then definitely next week."

Next week refers to the Steelers' final preseason game, against the Carolina Panthers. But even if Vick gets minimal playing time, expect him to spend the year as Roethlisberger's No. 2.

Maurkice Pouncey Update

Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

As if the Le'Veon Bell and Martavis Bryant suspensions weren't enough bad news for the Steelers offense, the team also has to deal with the possibility of being without starting center Maurkice Pouncey for the entire 2015 season.

Pouncey suffered an ankle injury in the team's preseason contest against the Green Bay Packers and needed surgery to correct it. The Steelers, however, haven't yet made any decision on what to do with Pouncey. And based on head coach Mike Tomlin's comments on Thursday, the safe bet would be to put him on the injured reserve recall list.

Tomlin, relayed by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, said, "Pouncey has a chance to return [in the] second half of the year," but that will depend on "how he heals after surgery." Players placed on the injured reserve recall list to start the season can return to practice in Week 8 and take the field again in Week 9.

In the meantime, the Steelers will rely on Cody Wallace to handle starting center duties. The team also re-signed veteran Doug Legursky to back up Wallace, given the other two centers currently on Pittsburgh's roster are undrafted rookies.

Updates on Other Injuries

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Maurkice Pouncey injury isn't the only one the Steelers are currently dealing with. There is also the ankle sprain defensive end Stephon Tuitt suffered against the Green Bay Packers that will keep him out of the rest of the preseason. 

Tuitt, who spoke with the team's official site on Tuesday, downplayed the injury, "It's just a little sprain. Nothing that bad. We are taking it day-to-day to make sure it's really strong." He did not indicate, though, whether he'd be ready for the regular-season opener against the New England Patriots.

Safety Mike Mitchell suffered a twisted ankle during Wednesday's practice, with head coach Mike Tomlin saying, relayed by Steelers Depot, that the severity is unknown. He was in a walking boot on Thursday. Other injured players include linebackers Lawrence Timmons (turf toe) and Vince Williams (hamstring), safety Ross Ventrone (ankle) and cornerback Cortez Allen. 

According to the team's official site, Williams practiced for three consecutive days this week and Allen was able to practice on Thursday, so the two could play on Saturday. The rest may continue to be sidelined while they continue their respective recoveries.

Preparing for the Dress Rehearsal

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The Steelers' Saturday contest against the Buffalo Bills is considered the traditional "dress rehearsal" game for the regular season, which means we'll get the longest look of the summer at Pittsburgh's offensive and defensive starters.

It won't be an exact copy of what the Steelers plan to do during the regular season, with head coach Mike Tomlin saying to the team's official site, "In a lot of ways, this is like a mock in-season week for us, or at least that's the way we are presenting information to the guys. From a planning standpoint, it doesn’t fully represent the in-season work we put it, but we do want to represent the process."

But it will be the most involved game-planning the Steelers have done this summer.

As far as playing time for the starters goes, Tomlin said they "will play in similar ways that they have already this preseason. Some guys will get more work where we think they need it, and some guys won't."

Also speaking to the Steelers' website, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said, "This is typically [the game in which starters play] the full half, maybe the first series of the second [half]. That's the expectation going in."

What Tomlin is most interested in seeing on Saturday are the special teams:

"

We have significant battles happening on special teams. Our punters are going back and forth and that will be fun to watch. We have to continue to take a look at a number of coverage guys and guys who have an opportunity to state a case for themselves. The strongest statements they can make for themselves in these next few weeks is probably in the special teams game. For those reasons, I'm excited about watching them play.

"