Steelers Injury News: Five Players Miss Practice to Start Week

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers injury list is lengthy to start this week as Pittsburgh prepares for this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. Five players missed practice with injuries, while others remained limited.

Pittsburgh opened up the 21-day window for Pat Freiermuth, and he is working his way back. On his first day in the window, he was limited by a hamstring injury. Freiemruth says that he has been cutting and accelerating. He feels like he can play, but will not jinx it this time.

Montravius Adams missed last week’s 23-19 win over the Green Bay Packers with an ankle injury suffered against the Tennesse Titans in Week 9. He did not practice to start the week against the Browns. Tomlin had said there was a chance that Adams would practice ahead of the Packers game, but he did not and was ultimately ruled out. Keeanu Benton would be in line to start.

Defensive tackle Cam Heyward is still ailing from his groin injury. Last week, he said he was dealing with swelling following core muscle surgery. It seems he may be limited again, but he should play against Cleveland.

Minkah Fitzpatrick has been dealing with a hamstring injury since the Steelers’ Week 9 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Tomlin also said there was a chance that Fitzpatrick would practice last week, but he did not. He did not practice to start this week, either, and could be a little bit away.

“Minkah is batting to come back to us,” Tomlin said. “How much they’re available during the course of the week is a determining factor, and obviously, the quality of that work.”

Keanu Neal was hurt when he was tackled on top of the football after his fourth-quarter interception. He was replaced late in the game by Trenton Thompson, who was called up from the practice squad for the game. Neal did not practice on Wednesday.

Wide receiver Dontae Johnson did not practice with a thumb injury. He suffered the injury in the game against the Titans but returned. Long snapper Christan Kuntz and tight end Connor Heyward dealt with bumps and bruises but are not on the injury report. Patrick Peterson and Isaac Seumalo did not practice for rest days.

Steelers Injury Report