On Thursday, there was some concern when Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson popped up on the injury report. He didn’t practice due to a hamstring issue, the same injury that forced him to miss four games. Johnson was activated off injured reserve just last week and enjoyed a stellar return against the Los Angeles Rams. On the day, he had five receptions for 79 yards.
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Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (#18) runs a route against the Baltimore Ravens during a 2021 home game at then-Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA.
Thankfully, that seemed to just be a precautionary move by the Steelers. On Friday, Johnson told media that he is good to go for Sunday’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The practice report reflected that, as he was a full participant.
In the middle of the week, veteran defensive lineman Cam Heyward was seen back on the practice field. As a result, his 21-day activation window officially opened. After he was a limited participant on Thursday, Heyward practiced fully on Friday. While he may not come off the IR this week, Week 9 seems like a realistic target for him to return now. His presence has been missed along the defensive line, as he's been out since the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Now just two days away from the contest, there is officially some concern within the cornerback room. With Levi Wallace (foot) and Joey Porter Jr. (calf) limited for a second consecutive practice on Friday, they will likely be game-time decisions. They have been officially listed as questionable, along with James Pierre, who is dealing with an ankle injury.
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Steelers veteran cornerback James Pierre has seen less snaps than usual in 2023 so far, and he is now questionable for Week 8.
Pierre actually did not practice at all on Friday, so his status may be even more in question than the other two. Luq Barcoo and Darius Rush, who have played a combined zero NFL snaps in 2023, both saw first-team reps in Friday's practice. That's not a good sign for a secondary that has already been struggling to find consistency. For Porter, he was just starting to see more playing time, so hopefully he is able to play.
On a positive front, other than the cornerbacks, the team seems to be mostly healthy for the Week 8 matchup. In his press conference on Tuesday, Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin mentioned linebacker Cole Holcomb (ankle) as someone to monitor throughout the week. It seems as if that's mostly healed, as he practiced fully the last three days of the week. He has no injury designation heading into the weekend, so he will be good to go.
Should The Steelers Activate RB Anthony McFarland Jr. For Week 8?
Something else to note from Friday's practice: running back Anthony McFarland Jr. practiced fully for the third consecutive day. He remains on the IR, but the team may activate him by the time of kickoff on Sunday. If not, similar to Heyward, he seems likely to return in Week 9 barring a setback to his knee injury. While the veteran won't see much time on offense, he will provide an impact in the kick return.
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Steelers running back and kick returner Anthony McFarland Jr. is one of several players that was able to heal up during the team's Week 6 bye, as he is now nearing a return off the IR.
TJ Watt popped back on the injury report on Friday with a calf issue, as he was limited. He still doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday, so the team likely played it cautious with him. The superstar edge rusher has dealt with a plethora of injuries in 2023, but has been able to play through them. He's still been his usual self though, as he has eight sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception, and five pass deflections through six games.
How badly does Pittsburgh's defensive line group need Heyward back? With Johnson fully healthy on offense, what are your expectations for him in Week 8 and beyond? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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