Hines Ward Injury: Updates on Steelers Star's Week 8 Status and Fantasy Value

Pittsburgh Steelers star, 14-year veteran WR Hines Ward left the game against the Arizona Cardinals yesterday with an ankle sprain in the third quarter.

Ward did not return to action in a game the Steelers ended up winning big.

Update: Sunday, Oct. 30th at 9:#0 a.m. EDT by Brandon Galvin

Hines Ward will not play today against New England, according to NFL's Albert Breer.

Expect Antonio Brown to start in his place. He should have a big game opposite Mike Wallace.

Update: Friday, October 28th at 4:13 p.m. EDT by Kyle Vassalo

Things aren't looking good for Hines Ward. Albert Breer says a league source calls Ward's status "highly unlikely". The Steelers need everyone to bring their "A" game to take down the Patriots and not having Ward would create an even bigger uphill battle.

Head coach Mike Tomlin did not seem too worried about the injury to his receiver, telling the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,

"

We will see where he is as the week goes on. Hines always finds a way to defy logic, if you will, when it comes to injury and so forth. So we will definitely leave a seat on the bus for him.

"

Ward was seen on the sidelines getting his ankle taped up, but the team elected not to try and return him to the field.

The WR has only missed six games in his entire career and as coach Tomlin said, he always finds a way to make it back from these types of injuries.

Pittsburgh looked quite solid with Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders on the field along with Mike Wallace in their three-WR sets. Brown went off for seven receptions and 102 yards in his increased playing time.

I expect Ward to be back for their Week 8 game against the New England Patriots, but his role might be reduced with the emergence of Brown.

Fantasy players should highly consider picking up Brown in most formats, especially against the Patriots’ league-worst secondary.

Keep it tuned here throughout the week for the latest updates on Hines Ward’s Week 8 status.