Steelers Lose 3 to Injury at Training Camp on Wednesday; Benton, Highsmith Return
The Pittsburgh Steelers lost three more players to injury in their final practice of training camp on Wednesday, but got two others back.
UNITY TWP, Pa. — The Pittsburgh Steelers lost three more players to injury during training camp practice at St. Vincent College on Wednesday, but got two big pieces of their defense back to action.
Center Nate Herbig was the biggest name to not finish practice. He left Chuck Noll Field late in the practice session with what appeared to be an upper-body injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin did not have an update on his status after practice. Zach Frazier replaced Herbig as the first-team center for the final team period.
Cornerback Grayland Arnold, who had been working as the first-team Nickel cornerback this week, also left practice with a calf injury. He was taken from the field on a cart. Beanie Bishop replaced him with the first team, where Bishop had been working for the first two weeks of training camp.
Running back Jonathan Ward walked off midway through practice with a hamstring injury and did not return.
The Steelers got plenty of good news on the injury front, though. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith and defensive lineman Keeanu Benton both returned to practice and worked in full. Benton said his eye injury is “fine.” Highsmith said he’s not sure about this week, but he plans to get into a preseason game after injuring his groin on Aug. 6.
“It’s feeling good,” Highsmith said. “I’m working my way back. It wasn’t anything crazy. … I felt good with what I was doing today.”
Highsmith said he isn’t sure if he’ll participate in the joint practice with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday or the second preseason game against the Bills at Acrisure Stadium on Saturday, but he does want some game-speed reps before the start of the season, if possible.
“I’m someone who hates missing out on things,” Highsmith said. “We’re gonna see what happens this Saturday. … I’m gonna try to get out there and get some reps.”
Cornerback Donte Jackson missed practice for the third day. Tomlin pointedly did not have an update when asked about his status. He has previously minimized the injury. Jackson told Steelers Now that it’s not a serious injury and that he should be good to go next week.
Troy Fautanu once again watched practice and spent most of his day in a knee brace, though he did have it off after doing some individual work. He has already been ruled out this week by Tomlin and is not expected to be back next week, either.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS INJURY REPORT
| Player | Injury | Date | Prognosis | Roster Status |
| C Nate Herbig | Upper body | Aug. 15 | TBD | Active, LP on Wed. |
| RB Jonathan Ward | Hamstring | Aug. 15 | TBD | Active, LP on Wed. |
| DB Grayland Arnold | Calf | Aug. 15 | TBD | Active, LP on Wed. |
| CB Kalon Barnes | Quad | Aug. 11 | TBD | Injured reserve |
| WR Tarik Black | Hamstring | Aug. 11 | TBD | Waived/injured |
| CB Donte Jackson | Undisclosed | Aug. 9 | TBD | Active, DNP on Wed. |
| OT Troy Fautanu | Left MCL sprain | Aug. 9 | Two weeks | Active, DNP on Wed. |
| NT Keeanu Benton | Right eye | Aug. 9 | TBD | Active, FP on Wed. |
| NT Breiden Fehoko | Arm/shoulder | Aug. 7 | TBD | Injured reserve |
| S Nate Meadors | Hamstring | Aug. 6 | TBD | Injured reserve |
| OLB Alex Highsmith | Groin | Aug. 6 | TBD | Active, LP on Wed. |
| OLB David Perales | Torn left MCL | July 31 | Months | Injured reserve |
| WR Roman Wilson | Left ankle sprain | July 30 | Week to week | Active, DNP on Wed. |
| ILB Cole Holcomb | Left knee | Nov. 2, 2023 | TBD | Physically unable to perform |
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