Four Steelers players are listed as questionable for Sunday’s regular season home finale against the Indianapolis Colts, while four players are expected to return from injury.
Inside linebacker Marcus Allen, kicker Chris Boswell, outside linebacker Ola Adeniyi and running back Anthony McFarland Jr. are all listed as questionable.
Fullback Derek Watt, guard Kevin Dotson, running back James Conner and tight end Eric Ebron are all expected to return to the lineup.
Boswell could be in line to miss his second game of the season with an injury suffered in practice. Boswell was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, but suffered a groin injury that limited him on Thursday and kept him out of practice altogether one Friday.
Allen suffered a stinger, which is a nerve injury in the neck and shoulder area, against the Cincinnati Bengals and did not practice at all this week. Allen started the first two games of his career against the Bengals and Buffalo Bills in Week 15.
A natural safety, he was moved to inside linebacker at the beginning of the season and had seen extensive work in the team’s sub-package defenses before being elevated to a starting role with the absences of Devin Bush, Robert Spillane and Vince Williams from the lineup.
Williams was activated from the COVID-19 reserve list this week and is expected to start, along with Avery Williamson. Backup Ulysees Gilbert III was placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
If Boswell is unable to dress against the Colts, first-year pro Matthew Wright will once again be elevated from the practice squad. Wright was 1 for 1 with two extra points in his first NFL game against Washington on Dec. 7.
Adeniyi suffered a shoulder injury against Cincinnati and did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday before being limited on Friday. He would be replaced by Jayrone Elliott or Cassius Marsh, who recently signed from the Indianapolis practice squad, as the team’s top backup at outside linebacker if he is unable to play.
McFarland missed practice with an illness on Friday. With Conner slated to return at running back, along with Jaylen Samuels and Benny Snell Jr., McFarland may be inactivated even if able to play.
Conner missed one game with a quadriceps injury suffered against Buffalo, but was a full participant in practice all week. Dotson, who hurt his shoulder in the loss to the Bills, was also a full participant in practice all week. Both players should be expected to start, Dotson at left guard in place of starter Matt Feiler, who remains on injured reserve.
Ebron (back) and Watt (concussion) were both injured against Cincinnati. Ebron was carted off the field on Monday night and missed Wednesday’s practice but was a full participant the rest of the week. Watt was a full participant in all three sessions after a scary collision in Cincinnati.
Defensive end Stephon Tuitt, who did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday with a back injury, was a full participant on Friday and is expected to play on Sunday.