Eight Steelers players were held out of practice on Wednesday as the team began preparations for its mostly meaningless regular season finale at Cleveland on Sunday, while four players that missed the team’s Week 16 game against Indianapolis returned to work.
Safety Terrell Edmunds (shoulder), defensive end Stephon Tuitt (back) and defensive lineman Tyson Alualu (ankle) were held out of practice with medical issues, while quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, center Maurkice Pouncey, right guard David DeCastro, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and defensive lineman Cam Heyward were given the day off.
Head coach Mike Tomlin announced on Wednesday that Roethlisberger will not play against Cleveland, with backup Mason Rudolph expected to start.
Inside linebacker Marcus Allen (stinger), kicker Chris Boswell (groin), outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi (shoulder) and running back Anthony McFarland, Jr. (illness), all of whom missed Sunday’s game against Indianapolis, were full participants in practice on Wednesday.
Tomlin said that the availability of those players will help determine how many regular players can sit out against the Browns on Sunday.