Last Wednesday, Brown expressed soreness in his knee and Tomlin, as he often does with veteran players, gave him the day off. On Thursday, Brown said he still felt discomfort, and reiterated as much on Friday, which prompted the Steelers to send Brown for an MRI. That's why, according to Tomlin, Brown was listed as questionable ahead of the Week 17 game against the
Bengals.
Tomlin said he couldn't get in touch with Brown on Friday evening or Saturday when Brown was a no-show for the walkthrough practice. At that point, "it became something altogether different," the coach said, referring to the decision to not play Brown against the Bengals. On Sunday morning, Brown's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, called Tomlin to say Brown felt better and was ready to play.
"It doesn't work like that," Tomlin said he told Rosenhaus, and that while Brown wasn't going to suit up he did want to meet with the receiver prior to the game. That was the last time the coach had spoken to the player. Brown never got that MRI either.