The Steelers wrapped up their preparation for Sunday's regular season opener against the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium.
And heading into Week 1 they are a team that is relatively healthy. Only cornerback Joey Porter Jr. appears on the injury report, and he is questionable.
For the Falcons, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out for Sunday's game and Cooper Rush will get the start.
One known factor for the Steelers defense as they prepare for Rush is they won't have safety DeShon Elliott, who was placed on the Reserve/Injured (designated for return) List before the season began and will miss at least the first four games.
With Elliott out, it will be others who will be called upon to step up early on.
"Main thing when you're missing any good player, what they bring to you on the field and physical presence, in DeShon's case, for the safety position and position flex," said defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. "Outside of that would be in the classroom and in the walk-through space in terms of leadership, communication.
"But the thing that we preach is next man up and just making sure that everybody's being held to a certain standard with that, but that's what you're normally dealing with.
"We try to distribute that responsibility. DeShon is a big piece of it. From there, I'm never trying to overload a certain person. Everybody's got to understand when that person is out and you're in, we expect the same thing in terms of the standard, in terms of communication.
"Jalen (Ramsey), from my interactions with him, in terms of leadership, being vocal and getting calls out and things of that nature, he's A-plus to me. I'm really excited to work with him. He's a good football player who cares about football. The thing that stands out to me is he cares about his teammates. I've got a lot of respect for that man."
Another player who will be relied on with Elliott out is fellow safety Jaquan Brisker. Brisker, who is from the Pittsburgh area, signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent during the offseason after spending the previous four seasons with the Chicago Bears.
He brings a lot to the secondary on and off the field.
"Infectious energy. He really enjoys football," said Graham. "You have to talk to him directly about whether being close to home has made a big difference for him, but I would assume just being able to play for the hometown team, that's definitely got to weigh on him a little bit in terms of just being excited about that.
"He's a pleasure to be around. He always wants to talk football. He's asking the right questions and always brings a certain energy level to the practice field. It's that entire group there, whether it's Jalen (Ramsey), whether it's Brisk, Jenk (Rayshawn Jenkins), all those guys in that room right there. They bring a nice energy out there on the field."
The full practice participation and status report is below.
Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 1
Game Status
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (Back) - Questionable
Friday, September 11
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (Back) - Limited
Thursday, September 10
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (Back) - Limited
Wednesday, September 9
No. 24 CB Joey Porter Jr. (Back) - Limited
Atlanta Falcons Participation/Injury Report, Week 1
Game Status
No. 1 QB Tua Tagovailoa (Oblique) - Out
No. 9 QB Michael Penix Jr. (Knee) - Out
No. 33 CB Billy Bowman Jr. (Achilles) - Out
No. 55 DE Za' Darius Smith (Shoulder) - Questionable
No. 71 OT Cameron Williams (Ankle) - Out
Friday, September 11
No. 1 QB Tua Tagovailoa (Oblique) - DNP
No. 9 QB Michael Penix Jr. (Knee) - Full
No. 17 WR Zachariah Branch (Hamstring) - Full
No. 33 CB Billy Bowman Jr. (Achilles) - Limited
No. 53 LB Kendal Daniels (Achilles) - Full
No. 54 DL Brandon Dorlus (Groin) - Full
No. 55 DE Za' Darius Smith (Shoulder) - Full
No. 68 OL Kyle Hinton (Knee) - Full
No. 70 OT Jake Matthews (NIR-Rest) - DNP
No. 71 OT Jawaan Taylor (Knee) - FP
No. 73 OT Cameron Williams (Ankle) - DNP
No. 90 DL Da'Shawn Hand (Knee) - Full
Thursday, September 10
No. 1 QB Tua Tagovailoa (Oblique) - Limited
No. 9 QB Michael Penix Jr. (Knee) - Full
No. 17 WR Zachariah Branch (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 33 CB Billy Bowman Jr. (Achilles) - Limited
No. 53 LB Kendal Daniels (Achilles) - Limited
No. 54 DL Brandon Dorlus (Groin) - Limited
No. 55 DE Za' Darius Smith (Shoulder) - DNP
No. 68 OL Kyle Hinton (Knee) - Full
No. 71 OT Jawaan Taylor (Knee) - DNP
No. 90 DL Da'Shawn Hand (Knee) - Limited
Wednesday, September 9
No. 9 QB Michael Penix Jr. (Knee) - Full
No. 17 WR Zachariah Branch (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 33 CB Billy Bowman Jr. (Achilles) - Limited
No. 54 DL Brandon Dorlus (Groin) - Limited
No. 55 DE Za' Darius Smith (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 68 OL Kyle Hinton (Knee) - Limited
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