Steelers Injury Report: Both starting OLBs set to return for Sunday’s game

A number of players look to return to the Steelers lineup in Week 4.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are finished uptheir preparation for Week 4 of the 2021 NFL season as they prepare to travel to Wisconsin to face the Green Bay Packers. In the final injury report of the week courtesy of Steelers PR Department, three players have been ruled out for Sunday’s game while wide receiver Chase Claypool is questionable.

Steelers PR Department

As expected, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger returned to practice on Thursday after his scheduled day off on Wednesday. Just like last week, rather than have him listed as a coaches decision, Roethlisberger is listed as having a pectoral injury but was a full participant again on Friday and has no injury status for Sunday’s game.

On Wednesday, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith both participated in practice on a limited basis with their groin injuries. On Thursday, Watt returned as a full participant while Highsmith was still limited. Watt contunued to be a full participant on Friday and has no injury status for Sunday’s game, much like Alex Highsmith who was also a full participant Friday. After missing both starting outside linebackers in Week 3, the Steelers have both players back against Green Bay this Sunday.

After leaving Sunday’s game with a rib injury, JuJu Smith-Schuster did not practice on Wednesday. On Thursday, Smith-Schuster moved in the right direction as he was limited but did participate. After practicing fully on Friday, Smith-Schuster is good to go and carries no injury status for Sunday’s game.

Diontae Johnson also returned to practice in a limited capacity on Wednesday after missing Week 3 with a knee injury. On Thursday, Johnson was able to get back on the field as a full participant and did the same on Friday and has no injury status as well.

Two players who did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday were Carlos Davis with a knee injury and Chukwuma Okorafor with a concussion. Neither player practiced again on Friday and are both out for Sunday’s game. When it comes to the right tackle position, the Steelers will look to have Joe Haeg in the starting lineup if Zach Banner is not brought onto the 53-man roster from the Reserve/Injured List for this week.

The other player who is out for Sunday’s game is guard Rashaad Coward who was limited with an ankle injury on Wednesday before missing practice on both Thursday and Friday.

A new player to the injury report on Thursday was wide receiver Chase Claypool. Dealing with an hamstring issue, Claypool was listed as limited on Thursday. On practice Friday, Claypool was unable to practice and is questionable for Sunday’s game.

As for the Packers’ injury report, you can see the names below courtesy of Steelers.com.

Green Bay Packers Participation/Injury Report, Week 4

Game Status

WR Marques Valdes-Scantling (Hamstring) – Out

G Elgton Jenkins (Ankle) – Doubtful

CB Kevin King (Concussion) – Doubtful

LB Krys Barnes (Concussion) – Questionable

S Vernon Scott(Hamstring) – Questionable

DL Jack Heflin (Ankle) – Questionable

Friday, October 1

LB Krys Barnes (Concussion) – Limited

G Elgton Jenkins (Ankle) – DNP

CB Kevin King (Concussion) – Limited

WR Marques Valdes-Scantling (Hamstring) – DNP

RB Aaron Jones (Ankle) – Limited

S Vernon Scott(Hamstring) – Limited

C/G Josh Myers (Finger) – Full

RB A.J. Dillon (Back) – Limited

DL Jack Heflin (Ankle) – Limited

To get more information on both the Steelers and Packers’ injury reports, check out the BTSC Injury Report podcast below: