Steelers Injury Updates: Three Players Nearing Returns

PITTSBURGH — Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic that the team will return three players who did not dress against the Bills for Thursday’s game against the Falcons. Those players are Larry Ogunjobi (right foot/ankle), Tre Norwood (calf), and Nate Herbig (shoulder).

“We did not absorb any real negativity in the last outing,” Tomlin said. “Guys are working their way back to us and getting really close. I’m optimistic on Larry O, Tre Norwood, and Big Brother Herbig. Our agenda is to play all healthy people.”

Hakeem Butler and Cody White were both waived/injured following the game on Monday. White suffered the injury in the game while Butler did not dress.

After the game, Tomlin said that the team had no new injuries and that the only player that played that was limited was cornerback Joey Porter Jr.

Porter had been limited in practice all week after returning from the ankle injury that caused him to miss the team’s first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Friday.

Tomlin said minimizing Porter’s exposure was about making sure that he’ll be able to play on a short week next Thursday in the preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

“We wanted him to get work not only tonight, but we just think it’s important to get him in as many environments in preparation for the regular season,” Tomlin said. “So we wanted to work him as much as we could work him tonight without absorbing negativity from a health standpoint.”

Five Steelers did not play, with Ogunjobi, Herbig; and Norwood all ruled out by Tomlin early in the week. Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (shoulder) and nose tackle Keeanu Benton (ankle) took warmups but did not play. However, it seems that those players that could suit up on Thursday.

STEELERS INJURY REPORT