The Pittsburgh Steelers have now released their first injury report of Week 5 ahead of their Sunday home game against the Baltimore Ravens and the Wednesday offering shows that eight players sat out practice earlier in the day.
Not practicing on Wednesday for the Steelers were tight end Vance McDonald (shoulder), running back James Conner (ankle), defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (quadriceps), outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo (foot), fullback Roosevelt Nix (knee), inside linebacker Mark Barron (not injury related), center Maurkice Pouncey (not injury related), and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (toe).
Nix is expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Ravens with the same knee injury that’s prevented him playing since Week 1. The week is also off to a bad start for Chickillo and McDonald as well. Both players missed the Monday night game and Chickillo hasn’t played since Week 2.
As for Heyward and Conner, both were injured during the team’s Monday night game but both did return to finish the contest. Head coach Mike Tomlin indicated on Tuesday that both might be limited at the start of the short week. Unless either have setbacks, both Heyward and Conner are expected to be ready to play Sunday against the Ravens and the same goes for Pouncey, Barron and Smith-Schuster, who will all likely practice fully on Thursday.
The Steelers have some good news on their Wednesday injury report as inside linebacker Vince Williams (hamstring) practiced fully earlier in the day. Williams hinted as much on Tuesday in a social media post. Williams has missed the Steelers last two games with a hamstring injury.
