Pittsburgh Steelers veteran tight end MyCole Pruitt (right knee) does not have an injury designation for Thursday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns, which means he’ll be good to go. Steelers nose tackle Keeanu Benton (knee) and cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (shin contusion) also don’t have an injury designation and will be active.
Pruitt missed the Steelers’ Week 11 game against the Baltimore Ravens with a reoccurrence of a right knee injury that caused him to miss time earlier this season. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Monday that Pruitt would have a chance to return to action this week, but when the team released an estimated injury report, Pruitt was listed as “did not practice” on Monday.
But Tuesday with the team actually out on the rainy practice fields at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, Pruitt was a full participant. Pruitt once again was a full participant at the Steelers final practice on Wednesday before they leave for Cleveland.
Pruitt first suffered the injury earlier in the season, leaving the team’s Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos on Sept. 15. Despite the right knee injury, Pruitt avoided a trip to the injured reserve list, and made his return to action against the New York Jets on Oct. 20. He played in the next three games, including 34 snaps against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, but missed practice all of last week.
Despite being a full participant in practice this week, Steelers second-year cornerback Cory Trice’s return will have wait, as the team ruled him out for Thursday night’s game against the Browns. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith (left ankle) will also also miss his second straight game. Highsmith told Steelers Now that he’s targeting a Week 13 return, when the Steelers are set to visit the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 1.
The Browns ruled out offensive Jedrick Wills (knee) and tight end Geoff Swaim (concussion) for Thursday night’s game. Germain Ifedi will likely start at left tackle against Pittsburgh.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT
| Player | Injury | Date | Prognosis | Mon | Tue | Wed | Game |
| DT Keeanu Benton | Left knee | Nov. 17 | Day to day | FP | IN | ||
| CB Joey Porter Jr. | Shin | Nov. 17 | Day to day | FP | IN | ||
| TE MyCole Pruitt | Knee | Nov. 13 | TBD | DNP | IN | ||
| OLB Alex Highsmith | Left ankle | Nov. 10 | Week to week | DNP | OUT | ||
| CB Cory Trice Jr. | Hamstring | Sept. 22 | Week to week | FP | OUT |
STEELERS INJURED RESERVE
| Player | Injury | Date | Prognosis | Roster Status |
| CB C.J. Henderson | Neck | Nov. 14 | Three weeks | Injured reserve |
| DT Montravius Adams | Left knee | Oct. 18 | One weeks | Injured reserve |
| CB Anthony Averett | TBD | Oct. 17 | TBD | Practice squad IR |
| WR Roman Wilson | Hamstring | Oct. 17 | One weeks | Injured reserve |
| DE DeMarvin Leal | Neck/stinger | Oct. 6 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| RG James Daniels | Achilles | Sept. 29 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| RT Troy Fautanu | R knee dislocation | Sept. 20 | Regular season | Injured reserve |
| P Cameron Johnston | Right knee | Sept. 8 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| SS Ryan Watts | Neck/stinger | Aug. 24 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| DL Logan Lee | Calf | Aug. 20 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
| C Nate Herbig | Torn rotator cuff | Aug. 14 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| OLB David Perales | Left MCL tear | July 31 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| ILB Cole Holcomb | Left knee surgery | Nov. 2, 2023 | Week to week | PUP/reserve |
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.