Steelers' Conner 'not ready' to return from ankle sprain

Pittsburgh Steelers running back James Conner is still recovering from a high ankle sprain that's sidelined him for the last two games.

"I'm trying. It's day by day I can walk around fine. I'm not limping around, but when I'm out there on the field, cutting and stuff, I'm not ready yet," Conner said, per The Athletic's Mark Kaboly.

The Steelers will take on the New Orleans Saints in Week 16. At 8-5-1, they currently hold the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoff picture with a half-game lead over the 8-6 Baltimore Ravens. Four other teams remain in the hunt for the final AFC wild-card spot.

"We'll let the amount of work that he's able to do and the effectiveness of that work be our guide," head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday on Conner's return, according to Penn Live's Jacob Klinger. "We'll make those decisions at the appropriate time as we push toward game time."

Running back Jaylen Samuels has taken over backfield duties in Conner's absence and totaled 172 yards in Sunday's 17-10 win over the New England Patriots.

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