The Steelers began their preparation for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots and did so with injuries mounting on defense.
Coach Mike Tomlin has already ruled out defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk and linebacker Alex Highsmith.
In addition, safety DeShon Elliott and cornerback Joey Porter Jr., who both missed the Seahawks game, and rookie No. 1 pick Derrick Harmon, who has yet to make his NFL debut, are all questionable. Harmon was limited on Wednesday.
"First, the guys that have been out," said Tomlin referring to players who have been dealing with injuries. "D. Elliott is improving, but I would characterize his availability as questionable at best this week.
"Derrick Harmon, same thing. His work is improving. His health is improving, but he would best be described as questionable, along with Joey Porter, who continues to work.
"The same three guys that were out a week ago could best be described as questionable, but we'll watch them throughout the week. We'll certainly gauge their participation and the quality of participation, and particularly the younger the player, the more significant that is.
"Harmon, obviously, would be stepping into his first regular season action, so there's a higher standard in terms of his availability. I think that's appropriate in terms of putting him in a position to perform and to perform well."
While those players had already missed time, both Highsmith and Loudermilk suffered ankle injuries in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
"Some in-game things that happened to us, just giving you an update there," said Tomlin. "Loudermilk will be out. He has a high ankle sprain. That could be described as weeks. Alex Highsmith, he has a lesser significant, but at the same time he has an ankle sprain as well. He could be characterized as out as well."
There were other in-game injuries that fortunately aren't as significant, but could limit some key players in practice. Those include linebacker Patrick Queen and cornerback Darius Slay.
"We had some guys that got banged up in-game that may limit them at the early portions of the week, but should not eliminate them from participation," said Tomlin. "Some of those guys include Patrick Queen with an oblique and Slay with a shoulder."
The injuries are all to key players on the defense, something that is going to require the next man up mentality to come on strong this week.
"As you can see, a lot of those guys are defensive players, but oftentimes it happens like that in football," said Tomlin. "It is our job and their job to adapt and adjust to put together the appropriate formula in terms of mixes of people, how we divide the labor up, and what we do schematically.
"So really excited about it. That was one of the things that I was referring to when I was talking about the level of excitement in terms of leaning in on this opportunity this week. As a coach, you've got to love those challenges. It's our job to put the ones that are available in position to be successful. So, we're excited about that."
The full practice report is below.
Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 3
Wednesday, September 17
No. 6 LB Patrick Queen (Oblique) - Full
No. 23 CB Darius Slay (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 25 S DeShon Elliott (Knee) - DNP
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - DNP
No. 64 OL Max Scharping (Knee) - Limited
No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 99 DT Derrick Harmon (Knee) - Limited
New England Patriots Participation/Injury Report, Week 3
Wednesday, September 17
No. 0 CB Christian Gonzalez (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 2 LB Harold Landry III (Foot) - Limited
No. 7 CB Carlton Davis III (Achilles) - Limited
No. 15 LB Marte Mapu (Neck) - Limited
No. 37 FB Jack Westover (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 44 LB K'Lavon Chaisson (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 58 OL Jared Wilson (Thigh) - Limited
No. 76 T Morgan Moses (Foot) - Limited
No. 90 DL Christian Barmore (NIR - Other) - Limited
No. 99 DE Keion White (Illness) - DNP
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