The Steelers began their preparation for Sunday night's game against the Los Angeles Chargers and unlike a week ago when they set out to prepare for the week, nobody has officially been ruled out yet.
"We have some bumps and bruises associated with play that may limit some people at the beginning of the week but not prevent them from practicing and participating as we push forward through the week," said Coach Mike Tomlin.
"As we always do, one man's misfortune is another man's opportunity. We will take it as an opportunity to grow and develop some others and ready ourselves in that way. "
Linebacker Alex Highsmith didn't practice due to an ankle injury. Tight end Darnell Washington (foot) also missed practice.
Receiver Scotty Miller is still dealing with a finger injury, but he could get a look this week and that could determine his availability.
"We'll see how he's able to function at some point this week with that," said Tomlin.
It's the same situation with linebacker Cole Holcomb, who was hit with an illness going around the locker room that forced him to miss the Colts game.
Both Miller and Holcomb are dealing with their injury/illness early in the week, missing practice on Wednesday, but could get back later in the week.
"We'll see if they're able to participate, and then the quality of that participation will be our guide in terms of whether or not we include them," said Tomlin.
Holcomb is one of several players hit by the illness, which also sidelined safety Chuck Clark on Sunday, although he was back on the practice field on Wednesday.
Tomlin said it's been a while since he has seen something like that happen.
"COVID is the only thing that comes to mind," said Tomlin. "But it's the National Football League. That's why you better have a hard-core plan and be light on your feet. I'm certainly thankful that we acquired Kyle Dugger, and he's a quick study."
Guard Isaac Seumalo played against the Colts on a limited week of practice last week but left the game due to the pectoral injury he was dealing with. He did not practice on Wednesday.
"Isaac is still nursing a pec like he was managing at the early portions of last week, and he was able to function for us," said Tomlin.
Another player dealing with an injury last week was safety Jabrill Peppers with a quad injury. It was the latest in the long list of injuries at the safety position, which included DeShon Elliott who was placed on the Reserve/Injured List last week.
With Peppers, Clark and Elliott not available, it was safety Jalen Ramsey and newly acquired Kyle Dugger who held down the fort, and it appears that isn't going to change this week.
"Excited about a complete week's work with Kyle Dugger," said Tomlin. "Was really impressed by his work in-stadium. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that again. Really impressed by his work in-stadium. Excited about having a complete week of work with him at the safety position, not only in terms of knowing what to do, because certainly he displayed an ability to learn quickly and play and detail that component of it, but the communication component of it, the work within groups.
"I thought Jalen Ramsey did an awesome job with him, particularly as we got into the weekend last week making sure they were coordinated as safeties.
"But all this work didn't mean anything. We still had to get in the stadium and make it happen. It certainly was a challenge. It lacked a little bit of fluidity there early on, but I thought as those two worked and worked together, their experience in the National Football League even though they're somewhat new to us, and whether it's Jalen new to the safety position, I thought their global overall experience and talent showed up as the game wore on.
"So excited about an additional week's work with that collective. Jalen will continue to work exclusively at safety. We value his positional flexibility. It's an asset to us. But certainly, under the circumstances we are in right now, we deemed that appropriate as we did last week in terms of nailing him down there."
The full injury and practice report is below.
Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 10
Wednesday, November 5
No. 13 WR Scotty Miller (Finger) - DNP
* No. 18 QB Will Howard (Right Hand) - Full
No. 21 S Chuck Clark (Illness) - Full
* No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring/Knee) - DNP
No. 40 S Jabrill Peppers (Quadricep) - DNP
No. 55 LB Cole Holcomb (Illness) - DNP
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - DNP
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (Pectoral) - DNP
No. 80 TE Darnell Washington (Foot) - DNP
No. 81 TE Jonnu Smith (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
* in the 21-day window designated to return from Injured Reserve
Los Angeles Participation/Injury Report, Week 10
Wednesday, November 5
No. 13 WR Keenan Allen (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 73 G Mekhi Becton Sr. (Knee) - Limited
* No. 91 DL Da'Shawn Hand (Groin) - Limited
* No. 47 LS Josh Harris (Chest) - Full
No. 66 T Bobby Hart (Knee/Ankle) - DNP
No. 23 S Tony Jefferson (Hamstring) - Limited
* No. 33 DB Deane Leonard (Knee) - Full
No. 52 OLB Khalil Mack (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 29 CB Tarheeb Still (Knee) - DNP
* in the 21-day window designated to return from Injured Reserve
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