The Steelers continued their preparation for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, working outside at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Linebacker T.J. Watt (ribs) and receiver Diontae Johnson (hip) didn’t practice on Thursday, after both were limited on Wednesday. Defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi (toe) didn’t practice for the second straight day.
Running back Najee Harris (oblique) didn’t practice on Wednesday but returned to the field on Thursday in a limited fashion, while linebacker Malik Reed (back) was a full participant after missing practice on Wednesday. Offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor (shoulder) didn’t practice on Wednesday but was back to work on Thursday in a limited fashion.
Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward sat, getting a vet’s day off, which is a benefit for younger players on the defensive line giving them more work.
“You give a guy like Cam Heyward a day off this time of year,” said Tomlin. “It’s a great day for a guy like DeMarvin Leal to grow and to play and take the type of steps that we need him to take in terms of continuing to get better and being a positive contributor to our efforts.”
Kicker Chris Boswell returned to practice on Thursday but still remains on the Reserve/Injured List.
The Steelers have a 21-day window to activate Boswell, or he will have to remain on the list for the remainder of the season.
Boswell was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Nov. 10 and had to miss at least four games.
Boswell has been dealing with a right groin injury that forced him to miss the Week 8 game against the Eagles, and then the last four games on the Reserve/Injured List.
Boswell, who is in his eighth season, has connected on 12 of 16 field goals this season (75%), with a long of 59 yards, and has hit on all nine of his extra point attempts.
For his career he has hit 194 of 222 (87.4%) field goal attempts and 240 of 254 extra point attempts.
For the Ravens, quarterback Lamar Jackson suffered a knee injury in the Ravens’ win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and his availability for this week against the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium is unknown.
If Jackson doesn’t play, it will be Tyler Huntley who will start for the Ravens, a player the Steelers are familiar with.
“Lamar is such a unique challenge,” said linebacker Alex Highsmith. “We just got to be able to get after him. And Huntley is a good guy as well. They’re both very dangerous. We just got to be able to get to whoever plays.
“Huntley has a very unique talent as well. We just got to be locked in on him as well. They got so many weapons on offense, so we just got to lock in and be in our P’s and Q’s and just really have a good game plan against these guys.”
The Steelers faced Huntley in Week 18 last season when he started for an injured Jackson, intercepting him twice in a 16-13 overtime win.
“We saw him last year at the end of the year when Lamar was hurt,” said defensive end Chris Wormley. “It’s really hard to replace a guy like Lamar. He’s been in the system for a couple of years now. He can do some similar things, but I think Lamar is in a class of his own with what he can do with his legs, throwing the ball, just his command of the offense. When you have a guy like Huntley who has been there a couple of years, he can still do some things, but I think it’s going to be hard to replace a guy like Lamar if he’s not healthy.”
Pro Bowl Games Voting: Steelers fans can do their part to send the team’s players to the Pro Bowl Games this season by voting here or on Twitter as part of the social media voting.
Any tweet or retweet that includes one the options below counts as one vote through Dec. 13 and doubles to two votes on Dec. 14 and 15.
Make sure your tweet or retweet includes one of these options and you can vote for any and all Steelers players:
ProBowlVote + @(PlayersHandle) – example: #ProBowlVote @CamHeyward
ProBowl Vote + Full Name – example: #ProBowlVote Minkah Fitzpatrick
Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 14
Thursday, December 8
DT Cameron Heyward (Coaches Decision/Resting Player) – DNP
OL Larry Ogunjobi (Toe) – DNP
LB T.J. Watt (Ribs) – DNP
WR Diontae Johnson (Hip) – DNP
OL Chukwuma Okorafor (Shoulder) – LP
RB Najee Harris (Oblique) – LP
LB Malik Reed (Back) – FP
Wednesday, December 7
RB Najee Harris (Oblique) – DNP
LB Malik Reed (Back) – DNP
OL Chukwuma Okorafor (Shoulder) – DNP
OL Larry Ogunjobi (Toe) – DNP
LB T.J. Watt (Ribs) – LP
WR Diontae Johnson (Hip) – LP
Baltimore Ravens Participation/Injury Report, Week 14
Thursday, December 8
TBA
Wednesday, December 7
DE Calais Campbell (NIR – Rest) – DNP
C/G Trystan Colon (NIR – Personal) – DNP
WR Devin Duvernay (NIR – Rest) – DNP
OLB Justin Houston (NIR – Rest) – DNP
T Morgan Moses (NIR – Rest) – DNP
QB Lamar Jackson (Knee) – DNP
OL Patrick Mekari (Toe) – DNP
CB Marcus Peters (NIR – Rest) – DNP
CB Daryl Worley (Hamstring) – DNP
G Kevin Zeitler (Knee) – DNP
OLB Del’Shawn Phillips (Quad) – LP
LB Patrick Queen (Thigh) – LP
LB Kristian Welch (Concussion) – LP
T Ronnie Stanley (Ankle) – FP
Tune in: For fans who don’t want to miss any of the action, NFL+ is here, which means you can now watch the Steelers live and on the go! Watch live local and primetime regular season games on your phone or tablet. Start your free trial today here.
