Usually, by Week 14, NFL injury reports are about as long as a CVS receipt… but for the Pittsburgh steelers, things are looking up. The team held their second practice of the week approaching Sunday’s rematch with the Cleveland Browns, and the official practice report was a sight for sore eyes.
Every single player on the roster (aside from veteran DT Cam Heyward, who for a veteran rest day) practiced in full on Thursday; how often does that happen? Hardly ever — especially in Week 14.
All players who started the week limited were upgraded to full participants on Thursday, including OLB Alex Highsmith, who logged his first full practice session since suffering an ankle injury in Week 10. HC Mike Tomlin shared that he fully expected Highsmith to return this week, and a full practice was the first major step toward it heading into Sunday.
WR Calvin Austin III also practiced in full, working his way through the concussion protocol, which is a positive sign for his potential availability on Sunday. He’ll still need to be cleared by an independent neurological consultant in order to play, but his participation is telling. He’d been forced from Week 13 with the injury after one of several big-time hits taken in that game.
The team activated CB Cory Trice Jr. from injured reserve on Thursday, as he locked in another full practice with the door officially open to return again this season. Trice suffered a hamstring injury in Week 3 that landed him on injured reserve. It’s worth noting that his promotion to the active roster doesn’t mean he’s a lock to play in Week 14; Thursday marked the team’s deadline to activate Trice before losing him for the year due to the rules of the 21-day practice window. Even if he’s not yet ready for game action (he’d logged full practices in previous weeks but hadn’t been activated to the 53-man roster), it’s a positive sign that the team expects his availability at some point.
The last remaining question mark in terms of injury updates is that of DT Montravius Adams, who’s been out on injured reserve with a knee injury. His 21-day practice window was activated ahead of Week 13, but he has not yet been activated to the 53-man roster.
Here’s a full breakdown of Steelers injury report for Thursday, December 6 ahead of this week’s meeting with the Browns.
Steelers injury report: Thursday, Week 14
Limited: N/A
Full: CB Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring), WR Calvin Austin III (concussion), LB Alex Highsmith (ankle), DT Montravius Adams (knee)
Veteran rest day: DT Cameron Heyward
*Italics indicate a change in player’s participation from yesterday’s practice
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