Kendall Simmons and the stork

Kendall Simmons is expecting his third child in a little more than a week. Celesta Simmons is due to give birth Monday Sept. 29, the same day the Steelers play host to the Baltimore Ravens in a Monday night game at Heinz Field.

The only problem is Celesta has been a week or two weeks early with the couple’s previous two children, which is making Simmons anxious heading into Sunday’s game at Philadelphia.

Simmons said he will return home to Pittsburgh if Celesta goes into labor this weekend and is prepared to miss the game.

“I’m hoping is doesn’t happen during the game or Saturday night,” Simmons said. “But I have to be there for that. I can’t pass up a situation like that.”

Simmons is keeping coach Mike Tomlin updated on the situation, and he said Tomlin has his blessing to return for the birth. But Tomlin apparently was one of the few people in the Steelers organization aware of the possibility that Simmons might miss the game.

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians did not know about it and neither did center Justin Hartwig or reserve guard Darnell Stapleton. They both said after practice today that it was the first they had heard of the situation.

If Celesta makes it through this weekend, Simmons said she will be induced sometime next week before the Monday night game, so missing that game will not be an issue.

“I just pray she makes it through this weekend and everything goes well,” he said.

-- Ray Fittipaldo