The Steelers began their preparation for Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers, and they are doing so with a relatively healthy team.
And it couldn't come at a better time.
With the bye behind them, and even the mini-bye following the Thursday night game, the Steelers have 11 straight regular season games without a break.
Receiver Calvin Austin III, the only player who has still been dealing with a nagging injury, could play this week against the Packers.
Austin has been out since he suffered a shoulder injury against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland.
"Calvin Austin is scheduled to work this week," said Coach Mike Tomlin. "We'll let his participation and the quality of that participation be our guide in terms of his availability.
"As we stand here (Tuesday), we're optimistic. I know certainly he's optimistic about his ability to be included."
Austin was happy to be back on the field with his teammates on Wednesday, anxious to get back to game action. He was a full participant.
"It felt great," said Austin. "Anytime being out there with the guys, putting on the uniform, doing what I'm blessed with, it's amazing, so I feel great.
"We have a great staff of trainers that work with me, listen, and continue to do to get me right. So, I just continue to follow the plan and just get better each day."
Austin said he is leaving the final decision as to whether he plays on Sunday night up to Tomlin, but he wants to be out there with his teammates.
"I practiced well, I felt good," said Austin. "I'm good. Whatever Coach T says, I'll be ready. But I think I'm ready."
Other than Austin, the injuries are all minor.
"We had some bumps and bruises associated with play," said Tomlin. "But after a long weekend of rehabilitation, I doubt any of those are significant in terms of limiting someone's availability. It may limit the availability at the top of the week.
"We have some veteran players and things of that nature that we'll minimize a little bit (Wednesday). As we lean in on that game, I don't expect any of those things to kind of be an issue."
Quarterback Will Howard returned to practice today, but remains on the Reserve/Injured, Designated for Return List. Howard was a full participant on Wednesday.
The Steelers have a 21-day window to either activate Howard or he remains on the Reserve/Injured List for the remainder of the season.
Howard was placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Aug. 28 after dealing with a hand injury in camp and missing all of the preseason.
The Steelers drafted Howard in the sixth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the 185th overall pick out of Ohio State.
Howard spent one season playing for the Buckeyes after starting his college career at Kansas State. He appeared in a total of 50 games in his college career, completing 767 of 1,202 passes, 63.8%, for 9,796 yards, 83 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Howard started all 16 games for the Buckeyes, leading them to a school record 14 wins and the College Football Playoff National Championship. He completed 309 of 423 passes for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns. His completion percentage was a career and school record, also setting an Ohio State record with eight games with at least an 80% completion percentage.
Tomlin did confirm that safety and special teams captain Miles Killebrew underwent surgery and will be out for the season, after suffering a 'significant' knee injury against the Browns in Week 6.
Killebrew was placed on the Reserve/Injured List last week.
"Miles is out for the season," said Tomlin. "Miles had knee surgery that was deemed a success. Certainly, he's facing rehabilitation at this juncture. Our heart aches for Miles. Obviously, he's a significant component of what we do, particularly in the special teams space.
"It's never one man. It's probably a collection of men that have to step up when you face a challenge like that.
"(Jabrill Peppers) did a nice job as a personal protector on our punt team last week. There will be no exhale there. That's something that's got to be earned over a long period of time.
"We've played a lot of football with Miles in that spot. That's the quarterback of the punt team, if you will. That certainly has our attention as we work to fortify the spaces, the voided spaces, where he's usually an asset to us."
The full injury and practice report is below.
Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 8
Wednesday, October 22
* No. 18 QB Will Howard (Right Hand) - Full
No. 19 WR Calvin Austin III (Shoulder) - Full
* No. 50 LB Malik Harrison (Knee) - Full
No. 54 C Zach Frazier (Calf) - Limited
No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
* in the 21-day window designated to return from Injured Reserve
Green Bay Packers Participation/Injury Report, Week 8
Wednesday, October 22
No. 65 G Aaron Banks (Groin) - LP
No. 71 T Anthony Belton (Ankle) - LP
No. 21 CB Nate Hobbs (Knee) - LP
No. 8 RB Josh Jacobs (Calf) - LP
No. 29 S Xavier McKinney (Ankle / Knee) - LP
No. 17 K Brandon McManus (Right Quadricep) - DNP
No. 77 T/G Jordan Morgan (Knee) - FP
No. 50 OL Zach Tom (Back) - LP
No. 90 DL Lukas Van Ness (Foot) - DNP
No. 7 LB Quay Walker (Neck) - FP
* No. 9 WR Christian Watson (Knee) - LP
No. 13 WR Dontayvion Wicks (Calf) - DNP
No. 33 S Evan Williams (Back) - LP
No. 95 DL Devonte Wyatt (Knee) - LP
* in the 21-window designated to return from Injured Reserve
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