The Steelers wrapped up their preparation for Thursday night's game against the Cleveland Browns, holding practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex before loading buses for the two-hour ride on the turnpike.
Linebacker Alex Highsmith, who didn't practice for the third straight day, has been ruled out. Highsmith suffered an ankle injury against the Washington Commanders and missed last week's game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Defensive tackle Cameron Heyward was allotted some veteran rest this week, not practicing at all and keeping him fresh for game day. Heyward said that Coach Mike Tomlin jokingly calls him the 'captain of the swim team,' because of the work he does in the pool on the underwater treadmill during the week.
"There's been a plan in place for me to stay upright and healthy," said Heyward. "I'd like to be out there practicing more. Mike T has a prescribed plan for me. He calls me the captain of the swim team.
"I'm trusting the process and it's bringing pretty good results."
Heyward was referring to the work he does on the underwater treadmill during the week to keep him in shape, and the maintenance he is getting seems to be working.
"The thing is, you'd love to keep Cam at a certain percentage of snaps because we do have good depth and that will keep him fresh so he's playing at a high level throughout the end of our season," said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. "It's part of the plan. He gets days off. We have the other guys get work; we get in the game.
"We try to make sure that we're real conscious of how many reps we give him because he's not 25-year-old Cam where he can take 95 percent of the reps, but he can give you a good 70 percent and be really efficient and really, really good and that's what he's done so far."
Even Browns Coach Kevin Stefanski said he has seen no signs of Heyward slowing down in his 14th season.
"No. No signs. He's healthy," said Stefanski. "I think he was battling injuries going into last year, but he's as good as there is. He's so strong. Good versus the run. Sacks the quarterback. Beats one-on-one blocks. Gets his hands up, bats a lot of footballs. He is outstanding."
An infusion of youth mixed in with veterans like Heyward, T.J. Watt and company is also helping, allowing a strong rotation to keep everyone fresh.
"It's huge, especially when those (young) guys are in the important meetings, the extra meetings," said Watt. "It's not just the minimum requirement.
"Those guys are trying to learn, trying to ask good questions. Guys are asking the right questions and it's awesome to see when those things are applied from that meeting room onto the practice field and from the practice field to the game field."
Cornerback Cory Trice Jr., who is on the Reserve/Injured (Designated for Return) List, has been ruled out even though he was a full participant in practice all week.
The full injury report is below.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 12
Game Status
** No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring) - Out
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - Out
Wednesday, November 20
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
** No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - DNP
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee/NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
** In designated 21-day window to return from Reserved/Injured List
Tuesday, November 19
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
** No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - DNP
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee/NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
** In designated 21-day window to return from Reserved/Injured List
Monday, November 18
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
** No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - DNP
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee/NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
** In designated 21-day window to return from Reserved/Injured List
**** Please note that Monday's report (11/18) is an estimation as the Steelers did not hold practice
Cleveland Browns Participation/Injury Report, Week 12
Game Status
No. 84 TE Geoff Swaim (Concussion) - Out
No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) - Out
Wednesday, November 20
No. 75 G Joel Bitonio (Pectoral) - Full
No. 58 LB Jordan HIcks (Elbow, Triceps) - Full
No. 90 DT Maurice Hurst (Shoulder) - Full
No. 3 WR Jerry Jeudy (Knee) - Full
No. 8 WR Elijah Moore (Shoulder) - Full
No. 95 DE Myles Garrett (Hip) - Limited
No. 85 TE David Njoku (Knee) - Full
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome (Shoulder) - Full
No. 17 QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Right Finger) - Full
No. 84 TE Geoff Swaim (Concussion) - DNP
No. 21 CB Denzel Ward (Ribs, Ankle) - Full
No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) - Limited
** Team did not conduct practice so participation is an estimate.
Tuesday, November 19
No. 75 G Joel Bitonio (Pectoral) - Limited
No. 58 LB Jordan HIcks (Elbow, Triceps) - Full
No. 90 DT Maurice Hurst (Shoulder) - Full
No. 3 WR Jerry Jeudy (Knee) - Full
No. 8 WR Elijah Moore (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 95 DE Myles Garrett (Hip) - DNP
No. 85 TE David Njoku (Knee) - Limited
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 17 QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Right Finger) - Full
No. 84 TE Geoff Swaim (Concussion) - DNP
No. 21 CB Denzel Ward (Ribs, Ankle) - Limited
No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) - Limited
Monday, November 18
No. 75 G Joel Bitonio (Pectoral) - Limited
No. 58 LB Jordan HIcks (Elbow, Triceps) - Full
No. 90 DT Maurice Hurst (Shoulder) - Full
No. 3 WR Jerry Jeudy (Knee) - Full
No. 79 T Dawand Jones (Leg) - DNP
No. 8 WR Elijah Moore (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 85 TE David Njoku (Knee) - Limited
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 17 QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Right Finger) - Full
No. 84 TE Geoff Swaim (Concussion) - DNP
No. 21 CB Denzel Ward (Ribs, Ankle) - Limited
No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) - DNP
** Team did not conduct practice so participation is an estimate.
