Diontae Johnson is out of the concussion protocol, but his toe still kept him out of practice on Wednesday, as one of eight Steelers that did not participate in the team’s first official workout in advance of Sunday’s date with the Philadelphia Eagles at Heinz Field.
Johnson has missed several early week practices with a toe issue this year, and that trend continued on Wednesday, but the more-pressing concussion protocol issue that held him out of the second half of the Steelers’ Week 3 win over the Houston Texans has been resolved, head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday.
Similarly, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee issue, another occurrence that has become common in the early part of the 2020 season. It has not caused Smith-Schuster to miss any time.
Cornerback Joe Haden was held out on Wednesday with an illness. Fullback Derek Watt (hamstring) and linebacker/safety Marcus Allen (plantar fasciitis) did not practice and are unlikely to play this Sunday if they do not work their way into full participation by the end of the practice week on Friday.
Veterans Ben Roethlisberger, Maurkice Pouncey and Stephon Tuitt were given Wednesday off.