Behind the Steel Curtain
No surprises on Tuesday’s practice report.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are on a short turnaround this week, having played Sunday afternoon with a pending Week 12 matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday. That means little time for those banged up to get right, but luckily, the Steelers seem to be in surprisingly good shape (knock on wood).
The only player to have missed Tuesday’s practice — the first of the week — with an injury designation was OLB Alex Highsmith (who was dubbed by HC Mike Tomlin as more likey out than in during his weekly press conference). Given the short week of preparation (which means less time to rest the injury), it always seemed unlikely that Highsmith would be available anyhow.
Cornerback Cory Trice Jr. continues to trend in the right direction for a potential return in Week 12 from injured reserve, having missed the last seven games on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Pittsburgh opened up his 21-day practice window on Thursday ahead of Week 11, and since then, he’s logged three full practices with the team without any reported setbacks — good news for the depth of the secondary.
Here’s a full breakdown of Steelers practice report for Tuesday, ahead of their Week 12 Thursday Night Football matchup.
DNP: OLB Alex Highsmith (ankle)
Full: CB Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring)
RB Najee Harris, LB T.J. Watt and TE MyCole Pruitt (also dealing with a nagging knee injury) were all estimated on Monday’s report to have had “rest days,” but notably, the Steelers did not hold practice on a short week; each of them were listed as full participants at Tuesday’s practice, technically the first of the week. DTs Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi continued to rest through Wednesday’s practice, as did OG Isaac Seumalo.
Neither DT Keeanu Benton and CB Joey Porter Jr., who each incurred bumps and bruises in Week 11, have been listed on the injury report — particularly great news.
