Aside from whom most consider their best player, the Pittsburgh Steelers project to have a healthy lineup headed into their playoff opener.
Starters Elandon Roberts, Isaac Seumalo and Najee Harris were full participants at Thursday’s practice at Acrisure Stadium, per the injury report.Running back Harris (knee) and left guard Seumalo (shoulder) have played through injuries for several weeks. Neither practiced Wednesday, when Roberts was limited.
Roberts, an inside linebacker, returned to game action last week from a pectoral injury that lingers. He left a game earlier in December because of a groin injury but did not miss any games.
“I think it shows when guys see a guy like Elandon fighting through all those things,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “Toughing it out and still being productive while toughing it out, I think that means something to your defense. It shows a level of leadership. Shows a level of want-to. Shows a level of commitment that we want from all our guys. I think that really rubs off on people when you see that.”
Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward remains limited but merely for reasons of limiting wear-and-tear on his 34-year-old body.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday announced that former NFL Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt would miss Sunday’s wild-card round playoff game at the Buffalo Bills because of a knee injury suffered during the prior weekend’s regular-season finale in Baltimore.
Before Thursday’s practice, Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick said with certainty he would be playing against the Bills. Fitzpatrick missed the final three games of the regular season because of a knee injury.
The Steelers bused across town from their South Side headquarters to Acrisure Stadium for a second consecutive day because Tomlin wanted to keep the team outdoors in preparation for what is forecast to be harsh weather conditions in Orchard Park, N.Y., this weekend. The grass outdoor practice fields at the Steelers’ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex were waterlogged after a rainy week.
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