The Steelers held their final practice on Wednesday as they prepare for Thursday night's game against the Tennessee Titans at Acrisure Stadium.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, and said on Tuesday he is playing after suffering a rib injury against the Jaguars.
"I'm playing, for sure," said Pickett.
Pickett said he tried to go back on the field after being injured against the Jaguars on Sunday but felt like he wasn't able to do what was needed to help the team win.
"Doing what I could to try to go back out there," said Pickett. "I felt like I couldn't throw it the way I needed to throw it to help us to win."
Offensive coordinator Matt Canada has no concerns about Pickett is he feels he is ready to go.
"Great faith in Kenny that if he's able to play, he'll play," said Canada on Tuesday. "If he feels like he's not able to perform and do his job he'll tell us."
One player who has been ruled out is safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Jaguars.
Defensive coordinator Teryl Austin knows it will take more than one player to make up for his absence, and everyone has to be ready to throw their hand in the pile.
"We have multiple guys that have to step up," said Austin. "Guys are going to have to do some different things, and it's our job on a short week to try to get them in there in the right positions so they can play to their strengths. But it's hard, you're not going to replicate that guy. That guy is really good, and he does a lot for us.
"We'll do it by committee and have that committee -- hopefully get the committee in the right spots so they can perform well."
Austin doesn't think it will limit what the defense can do schematically, it's just a matter of players getting added responsibility.
"I just think in terms of the other guys it may put a little more on their plate in terms of where they have to be and how they have to get there, but I think it's doable," said Austin. "We'll make that determination because we'll be working this right up until game time in terms of the things that the guys are going to do and what they feel comfortable with."
One player who stepped up last week when Fitzpatrick left the game was safety Miles Killebrew.
And rest assured, he is ready to step up again.
Killebrew knows what the defense is losing without Fitzpatrick on the field, especially from a communication standpoint, but is willing to put his hand in the pile to help out.
"He is a huge communicator," said Killebrew. "Guys are going to have to step up, including myself, if their number is called and communicate. It's going to be something we have to talk it through and handle it one play at a time.
"I think that is something that we have to take across the board, a spectrum of positions. He is so good at (communicating). He is the general in the back end. It is going to have to be a lot of guys adding a little bit more to their load and pulling the sled together."
Killebrew normally sees the bulk of his work on special teams, but he is always prepared if called upon.
"I would call it a readiness," said Killebrew. "We have to be ready to play whatever our positions are. That's what I am. I am a safety, and that is what we have to be ready to do.
"Special teams is a whole other game, but at the end of the day it's still running and tackling. Football's not that complicated. We have to make sure we are playing the positional game and make sure we're talking and seeing things together the same way."
The full injury report is below.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 9
Game Status
No. 29 CB Levi Wallace (Foot) - Questionable
No. 39 CB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) - Out
Wednesday, November 1
No. 8 QB Kenny Pickett (Rib) - Full
No. 23 CB Damontae Kazee (Hand) - Full
No. 26 RB Anthony McFarland Jr.* (Knee) - Full
No. 29 CB Levi Wallace (Foot) - Limited
No. 39 CB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 97 DL Cameron Heyward* (Groin) - Full
* Designated to return from IR; currently in 21-day practice window
Tuesday, October 31**
No. 8 QB Kenny Pickett (Rib) - Limited
No. 23 CB Damontae Kazee (Hand) - Full
No. 26 RB Anthony McFarland Jr.* (Knee) - Full
No. 29 CB Levi Wallace (Foot) - Limited
No. 39 CB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 97 DL Cameron Heyward* (Groin) - Full
* Designated to return from IR; currently in 21-day practice window
** Tuesday's report is an estimation, Steelers held walkthrough
Monday, October 30**
No. 8 QB Kenny Pickett (Rib) - Limited
No. 23 CB Damontae Kazee (Hand) - Limited
No. 26 RB Anthony McFarland Jr.* (Knee) - Limited
No. 29 CB Levi Wallace (Foot) - Limited
No. 39 CB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Hamstring) - DNP
No. 97 DL Cameron Heyward* (Groin) - Limited
* Designated to return from IR; currently in 21-day practice window
** Monday's report is an estimation, Steelers did not hold practice
Tennessee Titans Participation/Injury Report, Week 9
Game Status
No. 66 T Chris Hubbard (Concussion) - Out
No. 17 QB Ryan Tannehill (Ankle) - Out
No. 10 WR DeAndre Hopkins (Toe) - Questionable
No. 21 CB Roger McCreary (Hamstring) - Out
No. 44 S Mike Brown (Ankle) - Out
Wednesday, November 1**
No. 66 T Chris Hubbard (Concussion) - DNP
No. 40 CB Anthony Kendall (Knee) - Full
No. 11 WR Chris Moore (NIR - Personal) - Full
No. 17 QB Ryan Tannehill (Ankle) - DNP
No. 96 DL Denico Autry (NIR - Rest) - Full
No. 22 RB Derrick Henry (Ankle) - Full
No. 10 WR DeAndre Hopkins (Toe) - DNP
No. 21 CB Roger McCreary (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 98 OT Jeffery Simmons (Ankle) - Limited
No. 32 RB Tyjae Spears (Ankle) - Full
No. 44 S Mike Brown (Ankle) - Full
No. 0 CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (Thumb) - Full
No. 81 TE Josh Whyle (Concussion) - Full
** Wednesday's report is an estimation, Titans held walkthrough
Tuesday, October 31**
No. 66 T Chris Hubbard (Concussion) - DNP
No. 40 CB Anthony Kendall (Knee) - Full
No. 11 WR Chris Moore (NIR - Personal) - DNP
No. 17 QB Ryan Tannehill (Ankle) - DNP
No. 96 DL Denico Autry (NIR - Rest) - Limited
No. 22 RB Derrick Henry (Ankle) - Limited
No. 10 WR DeAndre Hopkins (Toe) - Limited
No. 21 CB Roger McCreary (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 98 OT Jeffery Simmons (Ankle) - Limited
No. 32 RB Tyjae Spears (Ankle) - Full
No. 44 S Mike Brown (Ankle) - Full
No. 0 CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (Thumb) - Full
No. 81 TE Josh Whyle (Concussion) - Full
** Tuesday's report is an estimation, Titans held walkthrough
Monday, October 30**
No. 66 T Chris Hubbard (Concussion) - DNP
No. 40 CB Anthony Kendall (Knee) - DNP
No. 11 WR Chris Moore (NIR - Personal) - DNP
No. 17 QB Ryan Tannehill (Ankle) - DNP
No. 96 DL Denico Autry (NIR - Rest) - Limited
No. 22 RB Derrick Henry (Ankle) - Limited
No. 10 WR DeAndre Hopkins (Toe) - Limited
No. 21 CB Roger McCreary (Hamstring) - Limited
No. 98 OT Jeffery Simmons (Ankle) - Limited
No. 32 RB Tyjae Spears (Ankle) - Limited
No. 44 S Mike Brown (Ankle) - Full
No. 0 CB Sean Murphy-Bunting (Thumb) - Full
No. 81 TE Josh Whyle (Concussion) - Full
** Monday's report is an estimation, Titans held walkthrough
