The Pittsburgh Steelers just released their Thursday injury report ahead of their Sunday Week 5 home game against the Baltimore Ravens and the latest offering includes just a few notable changes from the one the team released on Wednesday.
Not practicing for the Steelers on Thursday were outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo (foot), running back James Conner (ankle), tight end Vance McDonald (shoulder), fullback Roosevelt Nix (knee), guard Ramon Foster (not injury related), and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (toe).
Nix has already been ruled out for the Sunday game against the Ravens and it’s now not looking good for either Chickillo or McDonald to return this week as well. There’s always Friday, however, so keep your fingers crossed. As for Conner, he said earlier in the week that he hopes to be ready by Sunday so we’ll have to see what Friday holds for him. Smith-Schuster is expected to play Sunday, according to what offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said on Thursday. Foster was likely just given a veteran day off on Thursday.
“JuJu got a little banged up early in that ballgame last week,” Fichtner said. “We held him a little bit today, held him yesterday. I don’t have any feeling like he wouldn’t be back with us, but, you know, he gutted it out and I was really proud of him.”
After sitting out on Wednesday, inside linebacker Mark Barron (not injury related), defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (quadricep), and center Maurkice Pouncey (not injury related) all practiced fully on Thursday. Also practicing fully on Thursday was inside linebacker Vince Williams (hamstring) and it’s now looking like he will indeed return to action on Sunday after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.
