Hines Ward Injury: Update on Steelers WR Ankle Injury

Pittsburgh Steelers veteran receiver Hines Ward was carted off the field in the third quarter of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals after safety Adrian Wilson hit him hard on a pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Ward is said to have a sprained ankle and there is no word as of yet whether Wilson's hit led to the injury.

Fantasy Impact

Ward simply isn't the same player he once was, and it has shown in his fantasy numbers, too.

Ward was averaging just over 57 receiving yards per game headed into Sunday's game, and most of his fantasy points came in one game against the Tennessee Titans, the only week in which he scored in double digits.

Ward is being used in most leagues as a No. 3 receiver or a flex option, but he has even disappointed in that spot.

If Ward is limited, however, second-year receiver Emmanuel Sanders figures to benefit. In fact, after Ward's injury on Sunday, Sanders caught a touchdown pass.

Who's the Backup?

Sanders is behind Ward on the Steelers' depth chart and will receive more looks from Roethlisberger if Ward is out for a while, but don't expect him to catch a touchdown pass every week, or gain that many yards for that matter. Sanders has a career high of 78 receiving yards and it's actually been second-year pro Antonio Brown who has stood out so far. 

Devastation Scale

If this were Ward in his prime, his injury could disrupt the Steelers' offense. But he's been average this season, and a quarterback like Roethlisberger knows how to spread the ball around.

Ward's absence would mean one less reliable receiver, but Sanders may actually have a better chance of breaking out for big plays than Ward at this stage in his career.

I'm giving this a five out of 10 on the devastation scale.

Timeline for Return

Per Steelers Digest, Ward's return is questionable at this point. 

What They're Saying

Mike Bires of the Beaver County Times tweeted: