The Steelers wrapped up their preparation for Sunday's game against the Washington Commanders and head into it a healthier team than they have been as of late.
Center Zach Frazier has been a full participant in practice all week after missing two games with an ankle injury, and he isn't listed on the status report with all expectations he is good to go.
"Obviously, Ryan (McCollum) did a heck of a job stepping in there," said offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. "Zach has been playing good football. I don't even look at him as a rookie. He's got such a good presence. We knew coming out of the draft how mature he was mentally.
"A guy that's been off for a couple weeks, now you have to integrate back in. Zach has been playing good football. We expect that to continue."
Frazier said he is happy the injury wasn't worse because when it first happened, he didn't know what the case was going to be.
"When it happens, you assess yourself because you can't tell what exactly happened," said Frazier. "I was able to walk a little bit, so that gave me some hope. And all the testing was good. When I went back and watched, it looked pretty scary."
Outside linebacker Nick Herbig was hoping to return, but he didn't practice on Friday and has been ruled out. The Steelers did get re-enforcement though, with newly acquired outside linebacker Preston Smith adding to the firepower with T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.
"In terms of how we rush the passer, we have a certain style," said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "We know we're going to get after the quarterback, and those guys are going to rush. We're not going to change.
"I think what it does, is getting those guys back, it gives us two healthy groups to go in there and start rushing the passer. When you start losing guys, T.J. is really your only guy that has a big résumé as a rusher, that affects it. When you have other guys opposite of him, then I think that helps us go.
"I don't think it will change how we rush. It will change the fact we have more depth and be able to rush, probably more quality depth and being able to rush better with others in."
Highsmith's eyes lit up when he talked about the prospect of having an almost fully healthy defense again, especially at outside linebacker with the addition of Smith.
"It's awesome," said Highsmith. "We know the type of players we have on our defense. We know it's only going to get better throughout the season. Knowing that everyone's coming back healthy, a lot of guys coming back, it's just exciting.
"I just can't wait to continue to ball with these guys.
"It's going to be awesome. We're going to have the scariest unit in the league. All of us can get after it and make plays. That's the thing. I think offensive lines, tackles aren't really going to have a break when they play us because no matter who's in, we're all going to make plays.
"I'm excited with the group we have and that all of us are able to make plays."
While the next man up mentality got the Steelers through a rough stretch of injuries, having the full arsenal of players is something that can't be measured.
"It just means we're getting fully loaded now," said linebacker Patrick Queen. "We've always got confidence in anybody that steps on that field, but just have those guys back and how they were playing before. We know what we can do, especially in the back half of the season. Knowing the games that we've got coming this is a time to get in the rhythm."
Running back Jonathan Ward didn't practice on Friday and has been ruled out.
The full injury report is below.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 10
Game Status
No. 38 S Terrell Edmunds (Illness) - Out
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Hamstring) - Out
Friday, November 8
No. 2 QB Justin Fields (Hamstring) - Full
** No. 15 WR Ben Skowronek (Shoulder) - Full
No. 38 S Terrell Edmunds (Illness) - DNP
** No. 44 LB Tyler Matakevich (Hamstring) - Full
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 54 C Zach Frazier (Ankle) - Full
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee) - Full
No. 84 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Ankle) - Full
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
** in the designated 21-day window to return from Injured Reserve
Thursday, November 7
No. 2 QB Justin Fields (Hamstring) - Full
** No. 15 WR Ben Skowronek (Shoulder) - Full
No. 38 S Terrell Edmunds (Illness) - DNP
** No. 44 LB Tyler Matakevich (Hamstring) - Full
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 54 C Zach Frazier (Ankle) - Full
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee) - DNP
No. 84 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Ankle) - Full
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
** in the designated 21-day window to return from Injured Reserve
Wednesday, November 6
No. 2 QB Justin Fields (Hamstring) - Full
** No. 15 WR Ben Skowronek (Shoulder) - Full
No. 38 S Terrell Edmunds (Illness) - DNP
** No. 44 LB Tyler Matakevich (Hamstring) - Full
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 54 C Zach Frazier (Ankle) - Full
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 84 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Ankle) - Full
** in the designated 21-day window to return from Injured Reserve
Washington Commanders Participation/Injury Report, Week 10
Game Status
No. -- CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) - Out
No. 78 T Cornelius Lucas (Ankle) - Out
No. 8 RB Brian Robinson Jr. (Hamstring) - Out
No. 41 TE Colson Yankoff (Hamstring) - Out
No. 3 K Austin Seibert (Right Hip) - Questionable
No. 71 G/T Andrew Wylie (Shoulder) - Questionable
Friday, November 8
No. -- CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 78 T Cornelius Lucas (Ankle) - DNP
No. 3 K Austin Seibert (Right Hip) - Limited
No. 92 DE Dorance Armstrong (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 63 C Tyler Biadasz (Thumb) - Full
No. 99 DE Clelin Ferrell (Knee) - Limited
No. 6 LB Dante Fowler (Groin) - Full
No. 8 RB Brian Robinson Jr. (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 71 G/T Andrew Wylie (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 1 CB Noah Igbinoghene (Thumb) - Full
No. 41 TE Colson Yankoff (Hamstring) - DNP
Thursday, November 7
No. -- CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 78 T Cornelius Lucas (Ankle) - DNP
No. 3 K Austin Seibert (Right Hip) - Limited
No. 92 DE Dorance Armstrong (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 63 C Tyler Biadasz (Thumb) - Full
No. 99 DE Clelin Ferrell (Knee) - DNP
No. 6 LB Dante Fowler (Groin) - Limited
No. 8 RB Brian Robinson Jr. (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 71 G/T Andrew Wylie (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 1 CB Noah Igbinoghene (Thumb) - Full
No. 41 TE Colson Yankoff (Hamstring) - Limited
Wednesday, November 6
No. 86 TE Zach Ertz (NIR - Rest) - DNP
No. -- CB Marshon Lattimore (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 78 T Cornelius Lucas (Ankle) - DNP
No. 3 K Austin Seibert (Right Hip) - DNP
No. 92 DE Dorance Armstrong (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 63 C Tyler Biadasz (Thumb) - Limited
No. 99 DE Clelin Ferrell (Knee) - Limited
No. 6 LB Dante Fowler (Groin) - Limited
No. 8 RB Brian Robinson Jr. (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 71 G/T Andrew Wylie (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 1 CB Noah Igbinoghene (Thumb) - Full
No. 98 DT Phidarian Mathis (Gameday CPE) - Full
