Steelers Now
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin revealed during his Tuesday press conference that the “arrow is pointed up” for cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring), outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (ankle) and running back Jaylen Warren (knee) to play on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
Porter has been out since he suffered a hamstring injury in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the New York Jets. Originally thought to be minor, Porter ended up missing three more games while rehabbing the soft-tissue injury, but now says he is ready to go for this Sunday’s rivalry battle with the Browns.
“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “I’m back, surely.”
Porter was a limited participant in the team’s practices leading up to the Steelers’ Week 4 game in Dublin, Ireland against the Minnesota Vikings, and admitted that he was trying to play in that game, but that head coach Mike Tomlin wanted to be cautious with his return.
“I wanted to get back before the bye week, just to get my little groove in, but it was for the greater good that I sat, get some more time,” Porter said. “We’re ready now. … He had a timeline in mind, and he’s the head coach, so he has that right. Whatever he calls, I’m with it.”
Highsmith has been sidelined since the Steelers’ 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. If his return to practice on Monday is any indication, he could see the field again soon.
The sixth-year outside linebacker has been dealing with a high ankle sprain, an ailment he aggravated during that game against the Seahawks. He initially tweaked his ankle during the Friday practice leading up to that game.
Nick Herbig has filled in during Highsmith’s absence, playing well enough that the coaching staff feels he deserves consistent playing time.
“Those things are always week-to-week,” Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said last week. “You’ve gotta see what you’re going against and what’s gonna give you the best chance to win. If we have that opportunity to get those three guys out there when we get Alex back, I will absolutely do it.”
Following the Steelers’ 24-21 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Ireland, Tomlin explained why Warren was inactive.
Warren was dealing with a knee injury all week, and was limited in the team’s practice sessions in both Pittsburgh and Dublin, Ireland. Though listed as questionable, Warren was expected to suit up, and took early warmups at Croke Park before being declared inactive.
“Jaylen was a pregame decision. That’s why we listed him as questionable. He worked out prior to the game. We just didn’t feel good enough,” Tomlin said. “We didn’t want to put him in a uniform and then he wouldn’t be able to finish and then you’re working a guy short. So, we worked him out, and that’s where we settled. Jaylen is a tough guy. He wanted to do it. I just thought it was prudent not to.”
Tomlin said wide receiver [Calvin Austin...
