The Steelers began their preparation for Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys and already know they will minus a few players this week.
Coach Mike Tomlin indicated that linebacker Alex Highsmith isn't expected to play for the second straight week, dealing with the groin injury he suffered against the Chargers.
In addition, guard James Daniels was placed on the Reserve/Injured List after he suffered an Achilles injury in Sunday's game against the Colts.
With Daniels out, the team signed guard Max Scharping off the Washington Commanders practice squad. Scharping, who is in his sixth season in the NFL, has appeared in 79 games, starting 33 of them. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the 55th overall selection. He spent three seasons with the Texans, appearing in 48 games, starting 33 of them at both left guard and right guard.
Scharping was acquired via waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022, playing in 14 games that season, without any regular season starts. He started all three postseason games at right guard due to injuries. Last season he appeared in 17 games for the Bengals, mainly on special teams.
The Steelers could get a shot in the arm on the offensive line with the potential return of guard Isaac Seumalo. Seumalo missed the first four games of the season with a pectoral injury suffered in practice leading into the start of the regular season. He was a full participant in practice on Wednesday.
"I'm excited about the potential of having Isaac back, especially given some of the attrition that's happened here in recent weeks," said Tomlin. "He was close last week. I think it's reasonable to assume that he's got a real shot to make it this time around."
With Seumalo out, the reps at left guard were split between Mason McCormick and Spencer Anderson against the Chargers, and that was to have been the plan against the Colts, before Daniels was injured. When Daniels went down, Anderson moved to his right guard spot, while McCormick stayed at left guard.
How that plays out this week, with Scharping now in the equation as well, is yet to be determined.
"I think that will be determined with the quality of play in terms of how we distribute reps during the course of the week," said Tomlin. "I'm open to (rotating). I'm also open to playing one guy exclusively, if they distinguish themselves."
Tomlin has been pleased with the way McCormick and Anderson have stepped up.
"Double thumbs up on both guys," said Tomlin. "But again, I'm not surprised by it. Both guys have shown maturity beyond their years in this developmental process and play to boot. And thankfully, I expect that to continue."
Depth was a strength of the offensive line heading into the season, and even after losing Troy Fautanu, Nate Herbig and Daniels, they have held it together.
"You handle that with quality depth, and thankfully, that's something that we have," said Tomlin. "We've invested a lot the last several offseasons in terms of acquiring young, talented people. They're capable, and they're going to get an opportunity to show that. Guys like Spencer and Mason McCormick have done a real nice job."
On the quarterback front, Tomlin expects to see more from Russell Wilson this week, although the team is preparing for Justin Fields to start against the Cowboys.
Tomlin said he met with the training staff on Tuesday, and they plotted out a course for his work and then go from there.
"We'll see how he feels (Wednesday morning), and we'll let that be our guide in terms of his participation, but it seems like he's in a place where his participation is going to pick up some in terms of a practice setting, a live pocket, if you will," said Tomlin. "We won't draw too many conclusions, but we'll just start that process, and we'll comb through that day by day, evaluate his ability to move and function and protect himself, and obviously, evaluate his level of productivity.
"We'll let that be our guide in terms of whether we get into serious consideration as we push forward toward game time this week.
"So, in a lot of ways, I'm taking the same posture that I've taken in recent weeks, but I'm acknowledging that he's doing more work (this Tuesday) than he did last Tuesday. He's probably going to produce the potential of more work (Wednesday), and then we'll have some conversations as we proceed through the week based on the result of those things."
It would be nice if the injury conversations ended there, but they don't. However, there is potential for some good news.
Tomlin indicated several players could be heading in the right direction, but with exception of Benton being limited, none of them practiced on Wednesday including Warren, Pruitt, Patterson and Herbig.
"We've got some guys who are working, potentially a way back to us, and we'll let participation and the quality of that participation be our guide in terms of their inclusion - Jaylen Warren, (MyCole) Pruitt, (Cordarrelle) Patterson.
"Nick Herbig, who had an ankle injury. He was able to finish the game. It might limit him at the early portions of the week, but I don't know that his availability would be in question.
"Same with (Keeanu) Benton, he might be limited at the beginning of the week, but certainly not in question."
In addition, linebacker Jeremiah Moon was back on the practice field on Wednesday and the timing couldn't be better.
Moon returned to practice but remains on the Reserve/Injured List. The Steelers have a 21-day window to either activate him to the 53-man roster, or he remains on the Reserve/Injured List the remainder of the year.
With Highsmith dealing with a groin injury and missing time, and Herbig now dealing with an ankle injury that could limit him in practice this week, having Moon back for the first time since Week 2 of the preseason is ideal.
"It's been a long road dealing with a few injuries," said Moon. "I'm definitely grateful and working my tail off to get back, so today is the day.
"I've been doing everything, working with the trainers, eating right, staying engaged. It's been a while. I'm just grateful that my body is now recovered and everything.
"I'm ready to get back."
The full injury report is below.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 5
Wednesday, October 2
No. 3 QB Russell Wilson (Calf) - Limited
No. 30 RB Jaylen Warren (Knee) - DNP
**No. 49 LB Jeremiah Moon (Ankle) - Full
No. 51 LB Nick Herbig (Ankle) - DNP
No. 56 LB Alex Highsmith (Groin) - DNP
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (Pectoral) - Full
No. 81 TE MyCole Pruitt (Knee) - DNP
No. 84 RB/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (Ankle) - DNP
No. 95 DL Keeanu Benton (Ankle) - Limited
** in the designated 21-day window to return from Injured Reserve
Dallas Cowboys Participation/Injury Report, Week 5
Wednesday, October 2
No. 14 S Markquese Bell (Ankle) - Full
No. 21 CB Caelen Carson (Shoulder) - Limited
No. 3 WR Brandin Cooks (Knee) - DNP
No. 28 S Malik Hooker (NIR - Rest) - Limited
No. 50 LB Eric Kendricks (NIR - Rest) - Limited
No. 2 CB Jourdan Lewis (NIR - Rest) - Limited
No. 70 G Zack Martin (NIR - Rest) - Limited
No. 11 LB Micah Parsons (Ankle) - DNP
