Steelers Injury Updates: Buggs, Haden, Finney, Spillane All Miss Practice Tuesday

Four Steelers players did not practice on Tuesday in the team’s first full practice of the week as the club prepares for Thursday night’s trip to Minnesota to play the Vikings.

Nose tackle Isaiah Buggs, center/guard B.J. Finney, cornerback Joe Haden and inside linebacker Robert Spillane all did not practice on Tuesday, putting the status of all four players in significant doubt for Thursday.

Buggs is on track to miss his second straight game with an ankle injury. He’ll be replaced by Montravius Adams and Carlos Davis, who has been a full participant this week after coming off the injured reserve list over the weekend.

Finney was hurt early in the Steelers’ win over the Ravens on Sunday. His back injury was still being evaluated as of Monday, according to head coach Mike Tomlin. First-year offensive lineman John Leglue replaced Finney, who was already the fourth option at that position. Kevin Dotson (high ankle sprain) and J.C. Hassenauer (pectoral) are on the injured reserve list and Joe Haeg is on the COVID-19 Reserve List.

Haden has missed three games with his left mid-foot sprain. Veteran Ahkello Witherspoon drew into the starting lineup against Baltimore and is expected to do so again this week. James Pierre had been the team’s first attempt at replacing Haden.

Spillane was activated from the COVID-19 Reserve List on Monday, but is still dealing with a knee sprain suffered at Cincinnati. Buddy Johnson will continue to join Marcus Allen and Ulysees Gilbert III as the team’s backup inside backers with Spillane out.

Wide receiver Chase Claypool returned to work after being estimated as a non-participant with a toe injury on Monday.