Steelers promote WR Cobi Hamilton; Could signal Sammie Coates to miss Dolphins game

The Miami Dolphins may catch a break heading into the team’s Week 6 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers - no pun intended. The Steelers have promoted former Dolphins wide receiver Cobi Hamilton from their practice squad, preparing for the possibility that starting wide receiver Sammie Coates is unable to play during the match up. Coates is dealing with a fractured finger and is consider a game-time decision.

The Steelers bring into Miami a high-powered offense, with or without Coates, and the Dolphins will have a hard time covering all of the options the team will throw out there. Antonio Brown, who leads the league in receptions this season, will be the main focal point, but Coates has emerged as another potent option for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, which will stress a weak secondary for the Dolphins. If Coates cannot play, the Steelers will likely rely on Darius Heyward-Bey, Eli Rogers, and Hamilton as their receivers.

Pittsburgh will likely also lean on running Le’Veon Bell and tight end Jesse James as receiving options.

With Coates, the Dolphins are likely going to struggle to keep up with the Steelers’ passing offense. If he is unable to play, the job does, at least, get a little easier, even if it never becomes “easy” against a team like Pittsburgh.