Starting RB Rico Dowdle was inactive with a toe injury and Pittsburgh signed and elevated backfield help in a game the division-leading Steelers went on to win.

Pittsburgh's top cornerback missed a third straight game for what the club calls a non-injury, conditioning-related reason while an extension remains unresolved.

Pittsburgh will be missing a running back and a guard as it hosts a stingy, unbeaten Bengals defense Sunday.

Pittsburgh has scored just one touchdown in 25 possessions this season even as its defense ranks among the league's best.

A fan mailbag captured mounting questions about Pittsburgh's sputtering offense and personnel choices heading into Sunday.

Pittsburgh scored just 3 points in a loss to New England; Rodgers and McCarthy have discussed simplifying the playbook ahead of hosting division-leading Cincinnati.

Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, running back Rico Dowdle, cornerback Jamel Dean and linebacker Cole Holcomb all sat out Wednesday's practice as Pittsburgh preps for a divisional matchup with Cincinnati.

Rodgers pushed back on panic following a 20-3 loss to New England, telling reporters the offense's struggles come down to execution and preparation rather than scheme, ahead of Pittsburgh's home game against Cincinnati.

Dowdle left in the fourth quarter after a tent check, finished with 7 carries for 22 yards; Fautanu played every offensive snap despite not practicing Wednesday. Guard Mason McCormick was attended to on the field for an undisclosed injury.

Pittsburgh has scored 16 total points through two games under new HC Mike McCarthy, fewer than the first two games under either of his two predecessors. Steelers are 5-for-25 on third downs and lost 20-3 to New England.

Metcalf, Pittsburgh's big free-agent addition, had 4 catches on 9 targets for 27 yards with a drop as the offense scored just one touchdown through two games. Host Mark Madden: "DK is killing them, and that's a problem that can't be fixed."

Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, now an NBC analyst, said Pittsburgh "don't have a place to hang their hat" on offense. Browns coach Todd Monken responded pointedly to an earlier Tomlin jab. Steelers host Cincinnati next.

Former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin criticized Pittsburgh's offense — which has scored one touchdown through two games — during an NBC broadcast, extending a media back-and-forth that began with an earlier jab at Cleveland. Pittsburgh next hosts 2-0 Cincinnati.

Metcalf caught 4 of 9 targets for 27 yards while shadowed by CB Christian Gonzalez; coach Mike McCarthy tied the offense's struggles to the passing game needing to get untracked heading into the Bengals game.