The Steelers finished up their week of practice on Friday afternoon at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, ready to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday Night Football.
The receiver position is one that took a hit the past week, with Diontae Johnson placed on the Reserve/Injured List on Monday and Gunner Olszewski didn't practice for the third straight day and has been ruled out with a concussion. He is the only player on the status report, as everyone else was a full participant on Friday.
With the team thin at receiver, tight end Pat Freiermuth said it's up to their group to step up.
"We have to. It's not like we have a choice," said Freiermuth. "We have to. We're very confident in one another as a tight end group. I think we can do certain things that benefit the offense. We have to continue to hone in on our skills and hone in on what they are asking us to do with a couple of guys hurt."
Freiermuth has only two receptions for five yards through the first two games of the season and is hoping the offense can get the ball rolling this week and he can contribute more.
"It's always part of our game plan," said Freiermuth. "We just have to figure out how to get the whole offense going, not just specifically me. My targets will come. I am not stressing about it. I just have to keep on working and help get the offense going.
"If we can run the ball, we are going to be less predictable and less predictable on passing downs especially. We have to get the run game going."
It's going to be another week where it's a group effort to shut down the Raiders offense. Running back Josh Jacobs has gotten off to a slow start in 2023, but the defense knows he is ready to explode at any minute and their job is to shut him down.
"We have to be sound. We have to tackle," said linebacker Alex Highsmith. "Josh Jacobs is one of the best backs in the league. He runs hard, he runs physical, so we have to be physical with him. It starts with getting off blocks, staying in gaps, staying disciplined. Once we get to that point, we have to wrap him up and make a tackle. He is a hard guy to bring down.
"It's the little details. We all have to be disciplined, stay in our gaps, in our fits. There are times we can be better at tackling. Josh Jacobs is a physical back, so we have to be able to get him down. It starts with getting off blocks and everyone doing their job. If we all do our job and communicate well, we can be a very good defense."
The full practice report and status report is below.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 3
Game Status
No. 89 WR Gunner Olszewski (Concussion) - Out
Friday, September 23
No. 20 CB Patrick Peterson (NIR) - Full
No. 23 S Damontae Kazee (Calf) - Full
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Chest) - Full
No. 44 LB Markus Golden (Knee) - Full
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR) - Full
No. 80 TE Darnell Washington (Knee) - Full
No. 89 WR Gunner Olszewski (Concussion) - DNP
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (Foot) - Full
Thursday, September 21
No. 20 CB Patrick Peterson (NIR) - Full
No. 23 S Damontae Kazee (Calf) - Full
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Chest) - Limited
No. 44 LB Markus Golden (Knee) - Limited
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR) - Full
No. 80 TE Darnell Washington (Knee) - Limited
No. 89 WR Gunner Olszewski (Concussion) - DNP
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (Foot) - DNP
Wednesday, September 20
No. 20 CB Patrick Peterson (NIR) - DNP
No. 23 S Damontae Kazee (Calf) - DNP
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Chest) - DNP
No. 44 LB Markus Golden (Knee) - DNP
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR) - DNP
No. 80 TE Darnell Washington (Knee) - DNP
No. 89 WR Gunner Olszewski (Concussion) - DNP
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (Foot) - DNP
Las Vegas Raiders Participation/Injury Report, Week 3
Game Status
No. 9 DE Tyree Wilson (Illness) - Questionable
Friday, September 23
No. 0 CB Jakorian Bennett (Hamstring) - Full
No. 5 LB Divine Deablo (Rib) - Full
No. 1 S Marcus Epps (Quad) - Full
No. 16 WR Jakobi Meyers (Concussion) - Full
No. 91 DT Bilal Nichols (Hamstring/Hand) - Limited
No. 29 S Chris Smith II (Illness) -Full
No. 9 DE Tyree Wilson (Illness) - Limited
Thursday, September 21
No. 0 CB Jakorian Bennett (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 5 LB Divine Deablo (Rib) - Full
No. 1 S Marcus Epps (Quad) - Full
No. 16 WR Jakobi Meyers (Concussion) - Full
No. 91 DT Bilal Nichols (Hamstring/Hand) - Limited
No. 29 S Chris Smith II (Illness) - Limited
No. 9 DE Tyree Wilson (Illness) - DNP
Wednesday, September 20
No. 17 WR Davante Adams (Concussion) - Full
No. 0 CB Jakorian Bennett (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 5 LB Divine Deablo (Rib) - Limited
No. 1 S Marcus Epps (Quad) - Limited
No. 16 WR Jakobi Meyers (Concussion) - Limited
No. 91 DT Bilal Nichols (Hamstring/Hand) - Limited
No. 29 S Chris Smith II (Illness) - DNP
No. 9 DE Tyree Wilson (Illness) - DNP
