Steelers Injury News: Three Key Starters Return to Practice

PITTSBURGH — It appears that the Pittsburgh Steelers will finally be getting some players back from injury this week against the Arizona Cardinals. Three players who were injured and two who missed games logged full practices.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he expects the free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and nose tackle Montravius Adams to return to practice this week. If all goes well, return to action against the Cardinals on Sunday.

Well, both returned to full practice on Wednesday in what seems to be a positive sign for the players. Fitzpatrick has been out since Oct. 29 with a hamstring injury. Adams has missed three games with an ankle injury suffered against the Titans.

The Steelers have played just two series of defense this season with all of their top defenders: Cam Heyward, Alex Highsmith, Fitzpatrick, and T.J. Watt on the field at the same time, and Fitzpatrick’s return could lift a defense that is already fifth in the league in scoring defense and fourth in takeaways.

Adams hasn’t played since he injured his right ankle early in the team’s Week 9 win over the Tennessee Titans. He has been replaced by rookie Keeanu Benton, and with Heyward, Benton, Larry Ogunjobi, and Adams all in the fold, the Steelers could present their toughest defensive line yet.

Quarterback Kenny Pickett was dealing with ankle discomfort, but he practiced in full after Tomlin said it could limit him. As such, it is good to see that and Pickett said that the injury was no big deal.

Wide receiver Calvin Austin III did not practice with an ankle injury. That is unsurprising as Tomlin said he could be limited, but the injury is not as significant as they thought.

“It looks significantly better,” Tomlin said. “We’ll watch him and he might be limited some in the early portions of the week.”

The one new injury is wide receiver Allen Robinson II, who is dealing with a foot injury. But with the designation also including rest, it seems that is likely minor. Patrick Peterson, Isaac Seumalo, and Cam Heyward got the day off.

STEELERS INJURY REPORT