Steelers defense loses 3 to injuries

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A Pittsburgh Steelers defense that was playing its best game of the season found itself running short on linebackers at Bank of America Stadium.

Rookie inside linebacker Ryan Shazier left Sunday night's 37-19 victory over the Carolina Panthers early in the third quarter with a knee injury and did not return.

Shazier has a sprained MCL and will undergo an MRI on Monday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Outside linebacker Jarvis Jones was out with a wrist injury and also failed to return. He likely needs wrist surgery that would sideline him indefinitely, the source added.

If those hits weren't enough for the Steelers' defense to absorb, veteran cornerback Ike Taylor left the game with just under 10 minutes to go in the third quarter with a broken right forearm.

Taylor is a candidate to go on short-term injured reserve where he could return to action after eight weeks.

"It stinks because we all know the type of player he is, the type of competitor he is. We all know how tough he is," Steelers defensive end Brett Keiselsaid of Taylor. "He just loves the game, and it was hard to see him down there because he's played so many games. We love him. We know he'll continue to lead and he hope he heals up fast."

Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons slammed into Taylor's arm while the two were trying to make a tackle just after the Steelers had taken a 15-3 lead. A handful of Taylor's teammates knelt on the field in prayer as medical personnel tended to Taylor, and he eventually walked off the field holding his right forearm.

Shazier, who led the Steelers with three first-half tackles, limped off the field early in the third quarter, and the first-round draft pick had trouble putting weight on his right leg.

Jones left the game after making the biggest play of the night.

The 2013 first-round pick hurt his wrist while running into Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and causing a fumble that Jason Worilds recovered at Carolina's 17-yard line.

Four plays later Ben Roethlisberger threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown to give the Steelers' a 15-3 lead.

The Steelers increased their lead to 23-6 afterLe'Veon Bell's 81-yard run set up a second 7-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger to Brown.

William Gay will take over for Taylor at right cornerback while Sean Spence and Arthur Moats are the replacements at left inside linebacker and right outside linebacker if Shazier and Jones remain out.

Shazier declined to talk after the game and left the Steelers locker room wearing a Velcro brace around his right knee.

"I have full confidence in the guys behind [them]," defensive end Cameron Heyward said.