Steelers WR Diontae Johnson Returns to Practice

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson missed his team’s first practice session of the week with a thumb injury sustained in last Sunday’s 23-19 win over the Green Bay Packers, but it does not appear that he is going to let it keep him out of this Sunday’s AFC North battle with the Cleveland Browns.

Johnson was back at practice on Thursday, taking his usual spot as the first receiver in the line of reps as the team went through individual drills.

Johnson was able to return to the game against the Packers, finishing with one catch for 17 yards on a season-low four targets. He missed practice on Wednesday, but it doesn’t seem that the injury will keep him from playing with his return to work on Thursday. 

How effective Johnson can be with a banged-up thumb is another question, but one we probably won’t have an answer to until Sunday.

In five games this season, Johnson has 24 catches on 39 targets for 319 yards and one touchdown. He is averaging 7.8 targets and 4.9 receptions per game and 8.18 yards per target this season.

Johnson missed four and a half games with a hamstring injury suffered on the first play of the second half of the Steelers’ season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1.

Among the games he missed was the Steelers’ first game against the Browns, a 26-22 victory at Acrisure Stadium in Week 2.

RELATED: Finally, Diontae Johnson Breaks His TD-Less Streak

The Steelers will update their injury statuses after Thursday’s practice before making a final injury determination for the Browns game on Friday afternoon. Safeties Minkah Fitzpatrick and Keanu Neal and defensive tackles Montravius Adams and Cam Heyward also missed Wednesday’s action.

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