Steelers defense continues to evolve with injury to safety Polamalu

The Steelers defense looks nothing like it did at the start of the season, either in performance or personnel.

It will look even different Sunday when the Steelers (6-3) try to avoid losing to the Jets (1-8), whose only victory came against the winless Raiders.

Safety Troy Polamalu (sprained knee) and inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (sprained ankle) are out, further altering a defensive lineup that will have five different starters than it did in the Sept. 7 opener against Cleveland.

It's a defense that's gotten older — thanks to James Harrison and Brett Keisel — in a season in which it was supposed to get younger. It's a defense that's now without both former starting cornerbacks and three former first-round picks in Polamalu, Shazier and Jarvis Jones. ..............


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Next man up. Allen is usually solid at Safety. Spence has had more playing time, so he should be more comfortable and Williams will get more reps I imagine. If the DL can frustrate their O Line, we should be OK.