Severe Weather Causes Sunday Night Football Delay Between Steelers and Cowboys

The much-awaited Sunday Night Football matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys has been put on hold due to severe weather conditions.

Originally scheduled to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET at Acrisure Stadium, the game has been delayed as thunderstorms and lightning rolled through Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Fans were advised to take cover in the stadium’s concourses and the FedEx Great Hall as lightning continued to threaten the area.

The weather system is expected to clear the North Shore in about 20-30 minutes, but it may take up to an hour for lightning to completely move away from the stadium, further delaying the game.

Both teams have cleared the field, and officials have not yet provided a new start time.

Cowboys Missing Key Players

Dallas came into the game missing two of their key defensive players. Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is on injured reserve with a foot injury, and linebacker Micah Parsons, one of the team’s top defenders, is inactive due to an ankle sprain.

Despite these absences, cornerback Trevon Diggs, who was listed as questionable with an ankle injury, has been cleared to play.

Other inactive for the Cowboys include backup quarterback Trey Lance, cornerback Caelen Carson (shoulder), running back Deuce Vaughn, defensive end KJ Henry, offensive tackle Matt Waletzko, and tight end John Stephens.

Lance will serve as the team’s emergency third quarterback if needed.

Steelers’ Injury Concerns

The Steelers are also dealing with significant injuries of their own. Starting quarterback Russell Wilson, dealing with a calf injury, will be inactive for the game but available as an emergency third quarterback.

Other inactive players for the Steelers include wide receiver Roman Wilson, running back Jaylen Warren (knee), linebacker Alex Highsmith (groin), offensive guard Max Scharping, tight end MyCole Pruitt, and running back Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle).

Game Preview Before the Delay

Before the storm halted the game, fans were eagerly awaiting the clash between Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and Steelers quarterback Justin Fields.

The Cowboys entered the game with a 2-2 record, looking to build on their previous win. Meanwhile, the Steelers, standing at 3-1, were hoping to bounce back after their first loss of the season.

Both teams have high stakes in this matchup. The Cowboys aim to establish momentum in a competitive NFC East division, while the Steelers hope to secure another victory to maintain their strong position in the AFC North.

However, the weather delay has cast uncertainty over the game’s start time.