Saturday update: WR Michael Pittman Jr. has been downgraded to out.
On Saturday the team also place receiver Max Hurleman on the Practice Squad/Injured List.
Friday report below:
The Steelers wrapped up their preparation for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Among those dealing with injuries this week have been receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot), cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (conditioning/back) and offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (ankle).
Porter has been ruled out for Sunday's game. Pittman and Fautanu are both questionable. Pittman was listed as did not practice on Friday, the second straight day he missed, while Fautanu was listed as a full participant. The Steelers had a walk-thru on Friday so it was an estimation.
With Fautanu's situation, rookie Max Iheanachor knows being ready is the key. After dealing with his own injury in training camp, he is back and ready physically and mentally.
Iheanachor had what Coach Mike McCarthy referred as a 'big day' on Thursday with practice in pads, something that can only benefit him.
"It always feels good to go out there and play football with the guys," said Iheanachor. "It just gets better every day."
In addition to being ready physically, he is also ready mentally. From the time he was drafted in the first round this year, Iheanachor has hit the playbook.
"All the hours we've put into this point from OTAs till now, I definitely feel good," said Iheanachor. "At this level, you don't really have school, so all the time you can put it into getting better at football, studying the playbooks, watching more film. That part definitely helped a lot."
His efforts haven't gone unnoticed. Fellow tackle Dylan Cook has seen huge growth in Iheanachor over the past few months.
"Just understanding the game at this level," said Cook. "It's easy being in a college system. It's comfortable. And once you get here, you realize that everything may not be factored to O-line understanding like it is in college. So, you really have got to grow in that sense. You've got to learn formations and code words. Overall, just mentally, I've seen him definitely take a step in just his understanding of football.
"He's such a hard worker. It was tough seeing him hurt because you could tell he really wanted to be out there with us. He didn't want to take a step back and I don't think he did. I think he really took advantage of the mental aspect while hurt. Focusing on getting healthy, focusing on the playbook, focusing on our nuances that we do as an offense.
"He's a big human who just plays with instinct. He really knows the game. So, it's fun watching him play football."
On the Patriots side, running back TreVeyon Henderson, who missed the season opener due to an ankle injury, said he will be back in action this week.
"I'm ready to go," said Henderson. "Thank God I'm healed up now. I'm excited to be back out here with my teammates."
The Steelers knew going into this week the Patriots would be without standout receiver A.J. Brown, who was placed on the Reserve/Injured List following their season opener against the Seahawks with an ankle injury.
The Patriots had to adapt on the fly when Brown went down in the Seahawks game, but with a week to prepare, the defense knows there will be other weapons to contend with.
"In-game (injuries) are a little bit tougher," said Heyward. "They'll have a better plan. They have other good wide receivers, (Romeo) Doubs, then you also have Mack Hollins. They have a really good tight end in Hunter Henry."
With Brown out, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye said he needs to make sure he helps to elevate the rest of the offense, as well as elevate his own game.
"That's the job of the quarterback on every football team is to elevate the guys around you and elevate the guys up front and just try to get the ball out of my hands as fast as I can to theirs," said Maye. "I think based on last week I need to elevate my game in general. I'm trying to be the best I can back there and strive to have games like last year where I am close to completing every pass. You always talk in the quarterback room of being dialed in and being into practice and starting that in practice.
"I wouldn't say just because A.J.'s out that I'm trying to become this elevation. I think that takes everybody. It's a team effort and realizing that a lot of guys need to step up and do extra things and strain a little bit harder for us to keep going in the right direction."
Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 2
Game Status
No. 11 WR Michael Pittman Jr. (Foot) - Out
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (NIR/Conditioning/Back) - Out
No. 76 OT Troy Fautanu (Ankle) - Questionable
*Updated Saturday 9/19
Friday, September 18
No. 11 WR Michael Pittman Jr. (Foot) - DNP
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (NIR/Conditioning/Back) - Limited
No. 76 OT Troy Fautanu (Ankle) - Full
No. 80 TE Darnell Washington (NIR/Personal) - Full
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR/Rest) - Full
*The Steelers held a walk-thru on Friday, therefore this report is an estimation of practice participation.
Thursday, September 17
No. 11 WR Michael Pittman Jr. (Foot) - DNP
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (NIR/Conditioning/Back) - Limited
No. 76 OT Troy Fautanu (Ankle) - Limited
No. 80 TE Darnell Washington (NIR/Personal) - DNP
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR/Rest) - DNP
Wednesday, September 16
No. 11 WR Michael Pittman Jr. (Foot) - Limited
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (NIR/Conditioning) - Limited
No. 76 OT Troy Fautanu (Ankle) - DNP
No. 80 TE Darnell Washington (NIR/Personal) - DNP
New England Patriots Participation/Injury Report, Week 2
Game Status
No. 5 LB Dre'Mont Jones (Foot) - Questionable
No. 7 CB Carlton Davis III (Neck) - Questionable
No. 68 OT Dametrious Crownover (Knee) - Out
No. 77 OL Ben Brown (Knee) - Questionable
Friday, September 18
No. 5 LB Dre'Mont Jones (Foot) - Limited
No. 7 CB Carlton Davis III (Neck) - DNP
No. 14 LB Robert Spillane (Knee) - Full
No. 32 RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ankle) - Full
No. 68 OT Dametrious Crownover (Knee) - DNP
No. 77 OL Ben Brown (Knee) - Limited
Thursday, September 17
No. 5 LB Dre'Mont Jones (Foot) - Limited
No. 7 CB Carlton Davis III (Neck) - DNP
No. 14 LB Robert Spillane (Knee) - Full
No. 32 RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ankle) - Full
No. 68 OT Dametrious Crownover (Knee) - DNP
No. 77 OL Ben Brown (Knee) - Limited
Wednesday, September 16
No. 5 LB Dre'Mont Jones (Foot) - Limited
No. 7 CB Carlton Davis III (Neck) - DNP
No. 14 LB Robert Spillane (Knee) - Limited
No. 32 RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ankle) - Full
No. 68 OT Dametrious Crownover (Knee) - DNP
No. 77 OL Ben Brown (Knee) - Limited
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