Mike Tomlin supports Steelers' suspended safety Damontae Kazee

The NFL announced it is suspending Steelers safety Damontae Kazee without pay for the remainder of the regular season and any potential postseason games for his hit on Colts WR Michael Pittman, who is now in concussion protocol. Head coach Mike Tomlin came to Kazee's support on Monday.

Tomlin told reporters that Kazee is "not a dirty player," although the seven-year veteran has found himself being penalized several times this season. The league said he is being suspended for "repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players."

Kazee will surely be missed as he leads the team in interceptions (two) and has the second-most solo tackles (46) on the season. But Pittsburgh must move on, nonetheless.

The suspension couldn't have come at a worse time for the Steelers either as they already have several injured players in the secondary. 

Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick (knee) and Keanu Neal (ribs) have already been ruled out of the team's Week 16 contest against the Bengals. While safeties Trenton Thompson (stinger) and Elijah Riley (high ankle sprain) are also dealing with injuries of their own.

Without Fitzpatrick, Neal and now Kazee, it seems like Pittsburgh will be rolling with Thompson, assuming he will be able to play, and veteran Eric Rowe as its starting safeties this week.

Tomlin said Rowe, who signed to the Steelers' practice squad at the end of November, could look to have a role this week on defense with how thin the secondary has gotten.

The 31-year-old has been a quality player, posting 382 tackles, two sacks, six forced fumbles, five interceptions and 40 passes defensed in his nine-year career, but his best football is likely behind him.

Just when fans thought things couldn't get any worse on the team's three-game losing streak, they have, and there's a very realistic scenario where Pittsburgh loses out with the Bengals (8-6), Seahawks (6-7) and Ravens (11-3) left to play.