The Steelers wrapped up their practice for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns on the road and once again injuries are impacting the defense.
Free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick missed practice all week and has been ruled out, missing his third straight game with a hamstring injury.
That isn't the only injury the team is dealing with at safety, though.
Strong safety Keanu Neal, who has started eight games this season, has also been ruled out after missing practice all week with a rib injury.
In addition, nose tackle Montravius Adams will also miss Sunday's game, ruled out with an ankle injury and not playing for the second straight week.
With Adams out, look for rookie Keeanu Benton to step up again.
"I just think he has a better understanding of what we're trying to do and the techniques that they've been teaching him and all those things, and he's continuing to grow as a football player, and it's good to see," said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "It's nice to see.
"He's been on a steady upward trend. If you're watching the games and you watch it like we do as well, you can see that. We'll just give him more. He's right where we were hoping he would be. We didn't put any limits on him. Put it like that."
At the safety spot, Trenton Thompson was elevated last week from the practice squad for the game against the Packers.
And if it happens again this week, he will be more than ready.
"Last week I got a helmet, so it was about staying ready," said Thompson. "But with the injuries going on, once I found out I was going in, I got antsy, but it's football. This week I have an opportunity. I just tell myself it's football, starter or getting thrown in the mix. I will be all right. I am a calm, collected football player."
Thompson played seven snaps on defense and two on special teams and there is the potential he could be called upon again this week.
"I think those (decisions) are going to go down to game time as we get closer to the game and we'll see," said Austin. "But I think we have some guys here, we elevated Trent last week, we had Eli (Elijah Riley) play a little bit more. I think we'll lean on the guys that have been in the program and try to see if we can get those guys to step up if they have to step up and do the job.
"I think we like Trent. We thought when we got Trent, it was in camp, he came in and was tough, good tackler, showed some ball awareness, ball skill. Those are the things you like.
"But again, until you see him in a real game situation like last week he kind of got thrown in and all of a sudden we've got Trent in the game, we've got Eli in the game, we've got a bunch of guys in the game that maybe you're not used to seeing, so until we get more of a body of work, then we'll feel more comfortable with him. But we like his initial skill set and the things we saw."
The team will also be dealing with injuries at inside linebacker that have been mounting over the last few weeks, with both Kwon Alexander and Cole Holcomb on the Reserve/Injured List.
With just Elandon Roberts and Mark Robinson on the 53-man roster at the linebacker spot, there is the potential that veteran linebacker Mykal Walker could be called upon from the practice squad.
"We have some guys," said Austin. "Obviously, we have Mark, who's been here. And then we have got Mykal, who's had NFL experience. He's a 100-tackle type guy, and he's played a lot of football games. So, I think we'll kind of lean on those three and try to get the most out of those three and try to play to their skill sets."
Tight end Pat Freiermuth, who remains on the Reserve/Injured List and is questionable for Sunday, but there is some anticipation that he will be available on Sunday and could make an impact on the offense.
"Obviously you don't ever want to predict the impact, but it's nice to have everybody back," said offensive coordinator Matt Canada. "Since the first drive of the second half of the first game we haven't had everybody that we went through camp with. We're excited for him to come back and excited to have everybody kind of working the same way. We're continuing to try to get better, but we're excited about what he brings to the table."
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Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 11
Game Status
No. 31 S Keanu Neal (Rib) - Out
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) - Out
No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Ankle) - Out
No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth * (Hamstring) - Questionable
Friday, November 17
No. 18 WR Diontae Johnson (Thumb) - Full
No. 31 S Keanu Neal (Rib) - DNP
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Ankle) - DNP
No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth * (Hamstring) - Full
No. 97 DT Cam Heyward (Groin) - Limited
* Designated to return from IR; currently in 21-day practice window
Thursday, November 16
No. 18 WR Diontae Johnson (Thumb) - Full
No. 31 S Keanu Neal (Rib) - DNP
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Ankle) - DNP
No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth * (Hamstring) - Full
No. 97 DT Cam Heyward (Groin) - Limited
* Designated to return from IR; currently in 21-day practice window
Wednesday, November 15
No. 18 WR Diontae Johnson (Thumb) - DNP
No. 20 CB Patrick Peterson (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 31 S Keanu Neal (Rib) - DNP
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Ankle) - DNP
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth * (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 97 DT Cam Heyward (Groin) - DNP
* Designated to return from IR; currently in 21-day practice window
Cleveland Browns Participation/Injury Report, Week 11
Game Status
No. 68 G Michael Dunn (Calf) - Questionable
No. 3 WR Marquise Goodwin (Concussion) - Out
No. 79 T Dawand Jones (Knee) - Questionable
No. 1 S Juan Thornhill (Calf) - Out
Friday, November 17
No. 18 WR David Bell (Knee) - Full
No. 22 S Grant Delpit (NIR - Resting) - Full
No. 68 G Michael Dunn (Calf) - Full
No. 3 WR Marquise Goodwin (Concussion) - DNP
No. 79 T Dawand Jones (Knee) - Limited
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome II (Groin) - Full
No. 85 TE David Njoku (NIR - Resting) - Full
No. 54 DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (Groin) - Full
No. 20 RB Pierre Strong Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 77 G Wyatt Teller (Ankle) - Full
No. 1 S Juan Thornhill (Calf) - DNP
No. 21 CB Denzel Ward (Neck) - Full
No. 91 DE Alex Wright (Knee) - Full
Thursday, November 16
No. 40 LB Matthew Adams (NIR) - DNP
No. 18 WR David Bell (Knee) - Limited
No. 22 S Grant Delpit (NIR - Resting) - Limited
No. 68 G Michael Dunn (Calf) - Full
No. 3 WR Marquise Goodwin (Concussion) - DNP
No. 79 T Dawand Jones (Knee) - Limited
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome II (Groin) - Full
No. 85 TE David Njoku (NIR - Resting) - Limited
No. 54 DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (Groin) - Limited
No. 20 RB Pierre Strong Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 77 G Wyatt Teller (Ankle) - Full
No. 1 S Juan Thornhill (Calf) - DNP
No. 21 CB Denzel Ward (Neck) - Full
No. 91 DE Alex Wright (Knee) - Full
Wednesday, November 15
No. 18 WR David Bell (Knee) - Limited
No. 75 G Joel Bitonio (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 2 WR Amari Cooper (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 22 S Grant Delpit (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 68 G Michael Dunn (Calf) - Full
No. 3 WR Marquise Goodwin (Concussion) - DNP
No. 79 T Dawand Jones (Knee) - DNP
No. 26 S Rodney McLeod Jr. (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome II (Groin) - Limited
No. 85 TE David Njoku (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 54 DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (Groin) - Limited
No. 99 DE Za'Darius Smith (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 20 RB Pierre Strong Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 77 G Wyatt Teller (Ankle) - DNP
No. 1 S Juan Thornhill (Calf) - DNP
No. 5 LB Anthony Walker Jr. (NIR - Resting) - DNP
No. 21 CB Denzel Ward (Neck) - Limited
No. 91 DE Alex Wright (Knee) - Limited
