The Pittsburgh Steelers have now released what might be their final official injury report of Week 16 ahead of their Sunday road game against the New York Jets and the Friday offering includes a whole lot of good news.
Wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) practiced fully on Friday and did not receive a game status designation to close out the week. That means he should be good to go Sunday against the Jets after missing the team’s last four games with a knee injury. He reportedly said after practice that his injured knee still isn’t 100 percent and that he’s not sure whether he’ll play Sunday against the Jets. With him not receiving a game status designation, he should play barring a setback between now and Sunday.
Tight end Vance McDonald (concussion) and cornerback Joe Haden (foot) both practiced fully on Friday as well and nether received game status designations. That means, like Smith-Schuster, both should play against the Jets. Haden sat out Thursday with a foot injury and was added to the injury report. That injury, however, appears to have been minor. McDonald missed the Steelers Week 15 game due to a concussion but has obviously cleared protocol now.
Additionally, inside linebacker Mark Barron (not injury related), guard David DeCastro (not injury related), center Maurkice Pouncey (not injury related), tackle Alejandro Villanueva (not injury related), guard Ramon Foster (not injury related), tight end Nick Vannettt (illness), cornerback Artie Burns (illness) and wide receiver T.J. Watt (not injury related) all practiced fully on Friday as well. All eight players end the week without game status designations which means all should be available to play against the Jets. Vannett had been added to the report on Thursday after sitting out practice with an illness.
