The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Miami Dolphins Sunday afternoon in an AFC Wild Card game and ahead of that contest head coach Mike Tomlin updated the health of his team during his Tuesday press conference.
Tomlin indicated that several players who are dealing with preexisting injuries all have a chance to play against the Dolphins. That list of players includes defensive end Stephon Tuitt (knee), tight end Xavier Grimble (ribs), wide receiver Sammie Coates (hamstring), linebacker Anthony Chickillo (ankle) and safety Robert Golden (ankle). All but Grimble sat out the game this past weekend against the Cleveland Browns.
“All of these guys are in a better position than they were a week ago and were excited about maybe having these guys available to us,” Tomlin said of that list of players. “We won’t change our formula in terms of that availability, they’d have to display an overall readiness at some juncture over the course of the work week. We’ll let that participation and the quality of that participation be our guide in terms of their availability.”
Tight end Ladarius Green (concussion) is still in protocol but making good progress, according to Tomlin.
“Ladarius Green is still in the protocol, although that I will acknowledge that it is progressing rather well,” Tomlin said of the Steelers tight end. “The quality of his participation and the affects of is probably going to be one of the last one or two items that he’s going to have to check off from that perspective. But we won’t short-cut the protocol, we never do. We’ll rely on our medical experts in that area as we always do.”
As for other players currently dealing with injures, Tomlin said Tuesday that cornerback Justin Gilbert (shoulder), linebacker Vince Williams (shoulder) and defensive end Ricardo Mathews (ankle) are still be evaluated.
As for defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, Tomlin said Tuesday that he’s not in concussion protocol. Hargrave left the game against the Browns but was able to return briefly before being shutdown for good.
“Hargrave, I don’t think injury is going to be a factor with him,” Tomlin said.
