Steelers injury report: Starting CB returns to practice, Mason McCormick limited with broken hand Tuesday

tThe Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for their third game of the season facing the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round. Since the game is scheduled for Saturday, January 11 at 8 p.m. ET, Pittsburgh ramped up practices a day earlier than their usual schedule. As such, the first practice report of the week has been released.

Here’s a full breakdown of Steelers injury report for Tuesday, January 7 ahead of the Wild Card.

Steelers injury report: Tuesday (Wild Card Round)

DNP: DT Cam Heyward (illness)

Limited: RG Mason McCormick (hand), TE MyCole Pruitt (knee)

Full: WR Roman Wilson (hamstring), CB Donte Jackson (back), LB Cole Holcomb, DL Logan Lee (calf), OT Calvin Anderson

Veteran rest day: LG Isaac Seumalo

The Steelers enter the Wild Card Round relatively healthy in comparison to where they were at mid-season (knock on wood!), but that doesn’t mean there are no causes for concern, unfortunately. Three names to watch this week in particular will be cornerback Donte Jackson, defensive tackle Cam Heyward and right guard Mason McCormick.

The best news on this week’s injury report is that Jackson was a full participant in practice to start the week. Currently leading the team with five interceptions this season, he has been dealing with a back issue suffered in Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Jackson subsequently missed Week 16 against the Baltimore Ravens and returned to a full workload the following week against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Ahead of Week 18’s season finale, however, Jackson was downgraded to limited participation on Wednesday and Thursday practice with a final designation of “questionable” before being ruled out on game day.

Speaking with Jackson Tuesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN shared:

CB Donte Jackson (back) was upbeat today, but expressed frustration with his lingering back issues: “It sucks, man. it is frustrating because you work so hard … just to have your body right to withstand a full season, and it just sucks that you deal with stuff, man.

Donte Jackson said part of the issue is certain movements aggravate his back: “Just trying to keep it warm and just keeping up on the treatments. It is really just nagging because I’m such a twitchy [player]. So certain moves just aggravated a little bit.”

The fact that certain movements are aggravating the injury adds some clarity to the return to full participation followed by a surprising setback.

Heyward, meanwhile, continues to deal with the flu, which he’d previously shared he already played through in the season finale. He missed practice on Tuesday, though he’s usually a candidate for veteran rest days early in the week anyway.

Rookie right guard Mason McCormick is dealing with a broken hand suffered last week and was limited on Tuesday, though Steelers beat reporter Nick Farabaugh shares that McCormick is optimistic that he’ll play. If active, McCormick says he will wear a brace rather than a cast. His participation, even though limited, is a great sign that his availability is a possibility.

Also on the injury report are several players within their 21-day practice window in return from injured reserve, including WR Roman Wilson, DL Logan Lee and OT Calvin Anderson. Veteran LB Cole Holcomb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last season, practiced in full in his 21-day practice window to return from the PUP list. All four are on a deadline for activation, or else they’ll be done for the season — but none of that will matter if the Steelers fail to advance to the Divisional Round with a win over the Baltimore Ravens.


Source link