The Steelers wrapped up their preparation for Sunday night's game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium and the team will be without receiver Scotty Miller on Sunday, who is dealing with a finger injury.
In addition, center Zach Frazier is questionable, after being limited for a second straight day with a calf injury.
There is good news and that is the return of receiver Calvin Austin III to the field.
"It's great when you get a guy back that's a productive player and a big part of our offense," said offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. "That's an added bonus for us. Since I've gotten here, Calvin's played really good football, has made some big plays this season. We're happy to have him back."
Austin is looking forward to getting back on the field this week after missing the last two games with a shoulder injury.
Austin hasn't had a lot of time yet with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wants to go out and do his best for him, especially with Rodgers facing his former team.
"Just him having his confidence in himself and who he is," said Austin. "When I'm out there, it's fun playing for 8, a Hall of Fame quarterback that's continuing to build his resume.
"We're a part of that, so you just want to continue to make plays, obviously for ourselves and what we do, but for him as well."
Austin said the way Rodgers approaches things makes you want to take your game to the next level.
"It would be lying to say it doesn't," said Austin. "When you have someone with his resume. Having respect for this game and what he's done for this team, how he leads and stuff. How he carries himself. It makes you want to go out there and ball even more."
Quarterback Will Howard returned to practice on Wednesday, although he remains on the Reserve/Injured, Designated for Return List. He is questionable for Sunday's game.
Howard has made a lot of strides while waiting to return to practice, both physically and mentally.
"It goes back a little bit to the philosophy about developing quarterbacks," said Smith. "That's another part of it, too, with the lack of reps, practice. Just the reality of it, how do you develop young guys without playing games? So, we put a lot of work into it.
"It was unfortunate what happened. Didn't get to play in the preseason. It's important for him to practice. So different philosophies, if you sit a guy out the whole year, I think it's important to get those reps.
"We'll see how the season unfolds, but Will has been incredible. Did a lot of things behind the scenes and tried to expedite his growth, what we could do without him doing the physical work.
"It's been like having another quality control (coach) around the building. We call him Coach Will. Now he's back to being a player."
Howard was injured during training camp and didn't see any action in the preseason. He never imagined when he was hurt it would be this long until he was practicing again.
"I didn't know how long it was going to be," said Howard. "You never know. Obviously, that was a freak injury that happened. You can never count on anything like that happening, but you have to be ready for it.
"I feel like we attacked the beginning part of the season, at least in my growth and development. We developed a plan with the coaches and feel like I did a pretty good job of attacking that and executing it while I was out. It was hard to stay engaged and to try and be present every single day when you're not able to do anything.
"So, I'm just happy to be back. I learned a lot from that time. I was still in there every day trying to prepare like I was going to play, even though I'm not. Even when you're not even dressing, you still got to do that."
Howard said his role as 'Coach Will' is one that he welcomed as it helped him with staying engaged and learning more.
"They gave me that name (Coach Will) for a couple of weeks there, but now I'm back to player Will, which is pretty nice," said Howard. "They just gave me little projects to do throughout the week. Whether it was looking at some of the signals that we're doing, perfecting that and looking at some of those signals that their defense has shown on film. Breaking down corners. Breaking down one game a week and then doing a two-minute situation all around the league cut up that I was creating for the guys. Sometimes I showed it, sometimes I didn't, but for me it was really good just because I'm learning how to watch film.
"I talked to Aaron (Rodgers). When he first was in Green Bay, he said defensive signals was something he did. And that was something he told me would be good for you. It makes you watch film intently and you get to see what they're doing, what they are signaling on every call. I think it's a good way for me to learn how to watch film and diagnose a defense.
"I'm just trying to take every day, day by day, and learn as much as I can this year."
Linebacker Malik Harrison returned to practice last week.
Now he is hoping to get back to game action soon, although he too is questionable for Sunday.
Harrison, who was signed to a two-year contract at the start of free agency, was injured in the season-opener against the New York Jets and is currently on the Reserve/Injured, Designated for Return List.
"I feel good, feel back normal," said Harrison. "It doesn't hurt any more. Just ready to get back out there.
"I'm happy to be out there. Last week was my first practice. I felt good out there this week. I feel even better."
Harrison said it took some time from the point of the injury until now to get everything back rolling, including confidence in making all the moves with his knee.
"I had to build my confidence back up," said Harrison. "I think when I first was running, I wasn't that confident. But once I got back out there and playing football, I got confident."
Harrison has appeared in 77 career games, with 35 starts. He has 144 career tackles, 78 of them solo stops, and seven tackles for a loss. He also has two sacks, four quarterback hurries, and one pass defensed. In addition, he has 30 special teams tackles, including 17 solo stops.
"I've been in the league for six years, so I've got a lot of experience, on the special teams side especially," said Harrison. "Even in the meeting rooms this whole time I've been out, I've been giving advice to guys, especially talking to the young guys, telling them what I see and things like that."
It's not just special teams, though. Harrison's playing demeanor fits right in with the defense.
"That's what they brought me here for," said Harrison. "I'm a physical guy. I feel like I can stop the run. That's what I came here for."
The full injury and status report is below.
Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 8
Game Status
No. 13 WR Scotty Miller (Finger) - Out
* No. 18 QB Will Howard (Right Hand) - Questionable
* No. 50 LB Malik Harrison (Knee) - Questionable
No. 54 C Zach Frazier (Calf) - Questionable
Friday, October 24
No. 4 WR DK Metcalf (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 13 WR Scotty Miller (Finger) - DNP
* 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/Hip) - Full
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
* in the 21-day window designated to return from Injured Reserve
Thursday, October 23
No. 4 WR DK Metcalf (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 13 WR Scotty Miller (Finger) - Limited
* 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) - DNP
No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (NIR - Resting Vet/Hip) - Limited
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
* in the 21-day window designated to return from Injured Reserve
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
Game Status
No. 91 DL Warren Brinson (Hamstring) - Questionable
No. 0 WR Matthew Golden (Hip) - Questionable
No. 17 K Brandon McManus (Right Quadricep) - Questionable
No. 90 DL Lukas Van Ness (Foot) - Out
* No. 9 WR Christian Watson (Knee) - Questionable
No. 13 WR Dontayvion Wicks (Calf) - Out
No. 95 DL Devonte Wyatt (Knee) - Questionable
Friday, October 24
No. 65 G Aaron Banks (Groin) - Full
No. 71 T Anthony Belton (Ankle) - Full
No. 91 DL Warren Brinson (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 0 WR Matthew Golden (Hip) - Limited
No. 21 CB Nate Hobbs (Knee) - Full
No. 8 RB Josh Jacobs (Calf) - Limited
No. 29 S Xavier McKinney (Ankle / Knee) - Full
No. 17 K Brandon McManus (Right Quadricep) - Limited
No. 77 T/G Jordan Morgan (Knee) - Full
No. 50 OL Zach Tom (Back) - Limited
No. 90 DL Lukas Van Ness (Foot) - DNP
No. 7 LB Quay Walker (Neck) - Full
* No. 9 WR Christian Watson (Knee) - Limited
No. 13 WR Dontayvion Wicks (Calf) - DNP
No. 33 S Evan Williams (Back) - Full
No. 95 DL Devonte Wyatt (Knee) - Limited
* in the 21-window designated to return from Injured Reserve
Thursday, October 23
No. 65 G Aaron Banks (Groin) - Full
No. 71 T Anthony Belton (Ankle) - Full
No. 21 CB Nate Hobbs (Knee) - Full
No. 8 RB Josh Jacobs (Calf) - Limited
No. 29 S Xavier McKinney (Ankle / Knee) - LP
No. 17 K Brandon McManus (Right Quadricep) - Limited
No. 77 T/G Jordan Morgan (Knee) - Full
No. 50 OL Zach Tom (Back) - Limited
No. 90 DL Lukas Van Ness (Foot) - DNP
No. 7 LB Quay Walker (Neck) - Full
* No. 9 WR Christian Watson (Knee) - Limited
No. 13 WR Dontayvion Wicks (Calf) - DNP
No. 33 S Evan Williams (Back) - Limited
No. 95 DL Devonte Wyatt (Knee) - Limited
* in the 21-window designated to return from Injured Reserve
Wednesday, October 22
No. 65 G Aaron Banks (Groin) - Limited
No. 71 T Anthony Belton (Ankle) - Limited
No. 21 CB Nate Hobbs (Knee) - Limited
No. 8 RB Josh Jacobs (Calf) - Limited
No. 29 S Xavier McKinney (Ankle / Knee) - Limited
No. 17 K Brandon McManus (Right Quadricep) - DNP
No. 77 T/G Jordan Morgan (Knee) - FP
No. 50 OL Zach Tom (Back) - Limited
No. 90 DL Lukas Van Ness (Foot) - DNP
No. 7 LB Quay Walker (Neck) - FP
* No. 9 WR Christian Watson (Knee) - Limited
No. 13 WR Dontayvion Wicks (Calf) - DNP
No. 33 S Evan Williams (Back) - Limited
No. 95 DL Devonte Wyatt (Knee) - Limited
* in the 21-window designated to return from Injured Reserve
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