The Steelers wrapped up their preparation for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns, and they will go into the game a healthy team.
Receiver Calvin Austin III, who has been in the concussion protocol, said he expects to play on Sunday. He does not have an injury designation. Fellow receiver George Pickens is questionable with a hamstring injury, added to the list and was limited on Friday.
Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith is expected to be back, which would give the Steelers their full complement on defense, something that hasn't been the norm with injuries as of late.
"Alex Highsmith is a playmaker," said linebacker T.J. Watt. "You think splash when you think of him. Big time plays in big time moments. To be able to have the depth that we have at outside linebacker, I feel very comfortable with having all four of us healthy, five if you include (Jeremiah) Moon as well.
"It allows us to take a breather. You don't have to play 90 plus percent of snaps which it feels like we've been playing this season. So, anytime I can get a breather and let (Nick) Herbig or Preston (Smith) go in there and get some good quality reps, it's a benefit to all of us."
Watt getting a breather because of having everyone healthy is something that can only benefit the defense.
"It's a lot. It really is," said Watt of the workload. "You watch film, and you self-evaluate, especially after the Thursday game when you have a weekend to really break down and self-evaluate, and just really look at percentages and plays and snaps I'm playing per game, and it's too much.
"This past week, I tried to dial it back a little bit and we're going to find a happy medium so when I'm out there, I'm going 100 percent all the time and not resting on the field."
And just the thought of having that group healthy is something that has Coach Mike Tomlin feeling good.
"It's pretty exciting, isn't it?" said Tomlin. "Let's see where the roads lead.
"You can't run out of rushmen. I'm so excited about the potential of getting Alex Highsmith back and the development of (Nick) Herbig, the acclimation of Preston (Smith). You can't run out of rushmen, particularly in December.
"It's exciting. Make no mistake, there's enough work for all parties involved and we're excited about sorting that out as we prepare."
While Highsmith's return has Tomlin happy, on the flip side it's something Browns offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey has to be aware of.
"Obviously, he's one of the top rushers in this league," said Dorsey. "He generates pressure. He's a high effort guy. He can win with speed, win with power, and with the depth they have at the position and then obviously (T.J.) Watt, on the other side, it's a challenging combo.
"There's things you want to do to help your guys out in that regard, whether it's within pass protection, whether it's running the football, whether it's ball out, whether it's taking shots downfield. Just trying to mix things up to make sure that they can't get a beat as much in what you're doing.
"So, we just got to keep giving them different looks, keep understanding what we have in terms of the pass rush, because you got those guys and then the interior guys aren't bad players either. (Cameron) Heyward's playing at an extremely high level. They've got other guys in there that can as well. So, it's a great challenge for us, and we got to do a great job, obviously, not only as players, but as coaches, schematically, in what we're asking our guys to do."
The full injury report is below.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 14
Game Status
No. 14 WR George Pickens (Hamstring) - Questionable
** No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Knee) - Out
Friday, December 6
No. 14 WR George Pickens (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 18 WR Mike Williams (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 19 WR Calvin Austin III (Concussion) - Full
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - Full
** No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Knee) - Full
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 97 DT Cameron Heyward (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
** In designated 21-day window to return from Reserve/Injured List
Thursday, December 5
No. 18 WR Mike Williams (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 19 WR Calvin Austin III (Concussion) - Full
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - Full
** No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Knee) - Full
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - Full
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (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) - Full
** In designated 21-day window to return from Reserve/Injured List
Wednesday, December 4
No. 18 WR Mike Williams (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 19 WR Calvin Austin III (Concussion) - Limited
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
** No. 27 CB Cory Trice Jr. (Hamstring) - Full
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Ankle) - Limited
** No. 57 DT Montravius Adams (Knee) - Limited
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (NIR - Resting Vet) - DNP
No. 90 LB T.J. Watt (NIR - Resting Vet) - Limited
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 Reserve/Injured List
Cleveland Browns Participation/Injury Report, Week 14
Game Status
No. 26 CB Myles Harden (Tibia) - Questionable
No. 90 DT Maurice Hurst (Ankle) - Out
No. 92 DE Sam Kamara (Concussion) - Out
No. 10 WR Cedric Tillman (Concussion) - Out
No. 1 S Juan Thornhill (Calf) - Questionable
No. 80 WR Jamari Thrash (Shoulder) - Questionable
No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) - Out
Friday, December 6
No. 75 G Joel Bitonio (Ankle) - Full
No. 26 CB Myles Harden (Tibia) - Limited
No. 90 DT Maurice Hurst (Ankle) - DNP
No. 92 DE Sam Kamara (Concussion) - DNP
No. 3 WR Jerry Jeudy (Knee) - Full
No. 8 WR Elijah Moore (Shoulder) - Full
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome (Abdomen) - Limited
No. 10 WR Cedric Tillman (Concussion) - DNP
No. 1 S Juan Thornhill (Calf) - Limited
No. 80 WR Jamari Thrash (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) - DNP
Thursday, December 5
No. 75 G Joel Bitonio (Ankle) - Full
No. 26 CB Myles Harden (Tibia) - Limited
No. 90 DT Maurice Hurst (Ankle) - DNP
No. 92 DE Sam Kamara (Concussion) - DNP
No. 3 WR Jerry Jeudy (Knee) - Full
No. 8 WR Elijah Moore (Shoulder) - Full
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome (Abdomen) - Limited
No. 10 WR Cedric Tillman (Concussion) - DNP
No. 1 S Juan Thornhill (Calf) - Limited
No. 80 WR Jamari Thrash (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) - DNP
Wednesday, December 4
No. 75 G Joel Bitonio (Ankle) - Full
No. 26 CB Myles Harden (Tibia) - Limited
No. 90 DT Maurice Hurst (Ankle) - Limited
No. 92 DE Sam Kamara (Concussion) - DNP
No. 3 WR Jerry Jeudy (Knee) - Full
No. 8 WR Elijah Moore (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 0 CB Greg Newsome (Abdomen) - Limited
No. 10 WR Cedric Tillman (Concussion) - DNP
No. 1 S Juan Thornhill (Calf) - DNP
No. 80 WR Jamari Thrash (Shoulder) - DNP
No. 71 T Jedrick Wills (Knee) - DNP
* Team did not conduct practice so participation is an estimate
