The Pittsburgh Steelers have finally released what will likely be their final injury report of Week 8 ahead of their Monday night home game against the Miami Dolphins and the Saturday offering shows one new addition on it and three players listed as questionable.
Limited on Saturday for the Steelers was inside linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III (back) and he ends the week listed as questionable Gilbert is a new addition to the team’s injury report as he practiced fully on Thursday and Friday.
Practicing fully on Friday were linebacker Mark Barron (hamstring) and running back Jaylen Samuels (knee). However, both end the week listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. Both Barron and Samuels missed the Steelers last game with their respective injuries. Despite his quick recovery from knee surgery and him practicing fully this week, it will be interesting to see if Samuels ultimately plays Monday night against the Dolphins.
“I am just getting better every day,” said Samuels, according to Teresa Varley of steelers.com. “They told me how long I could miss, and it was like a month. I knew my body was a fast healer. I knew if I could push myself hard, I could be back sooner. That is what I have been doing. I have been going hard these last two weeks. I feel pretty good. I feel real good. I am still just trying to be cautious.
“The bye week came at a perfect time. I am taking it day-by-day, taking it slowly, still working. Still trying to get back to 100. I am close, real close.”
Also practicing fully again on Saturday for the Steelers were cornerback Joe Haden (groin), cornerback Mike Hilton (calf), tight end Vance McDonald (shoulder), cornerback Steven Nelson (groin), fullback Roosevelt Nix (knee), quarterback Mason Rudolph (concussion), wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (illness), wide receiver James Washington (shoulder), and outside linebacker T.J. Watt (abdomen).
None of those nine players were given game status designations on Saturday so barring any of them being downgraded on Sunday, all will be expected to play Monday night against the Dolphins. Watt updated his condition on Saturday.
“Pulling a muscle or tearing a muscle isn’t fun, but to be able to kind of take it slowly and have the bye week really helped me a lot with recovery,” Watt said. “I’m still not where I want to be at all, but if I’m safe enough to be able to go where I’m not going to reinjure myself, I’ll definitely give it a shot on Monday night.”
