The Pittsburgh Steelers are days out from 2024’s Great Battle of Pennsylvania — a Week 15 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles — and they’ve officially held their first team practice of the week.
Though most of the players who sat out Wednesday’s practice did so as a “veteran rest day” — including LB Patrick Queen, WR Mike Williams, RB Najee Harris, LG Isaac Seumalo, LB T.J. Watt and DT Cameron Heyward — there were three players who sat out Wednesday with an injury designation. Those players included WR George Pickens and S DeShon Elliott, each dealing with a hamstring injury, as well as DT Larry Ogunjobi (groin).
Though HC Mike Tomlin had previously acknowledged Pickens as likely out for this week, noting he “could be characterized as doubtful,” in his Tuesday press conference.
Tomlin also shared that the team is “probably in a little bit better position from a participation standpoint” when it comes to Ogunjobi and Elliott, sharing that he hopes for an uptick in participation later in the week. Each of their absences would be felt in a big way in Week 15, particularly up against the Eagles’ powerhouse offense.
Elliott in particular has been a standout this season as one of the team’s top offseason acquisitions, particularly helpful as a run defender, with the lowest average depth of tackle (5.2 yards) on run plays among any defensive back in Pittsburgh’s secondary, all in addition to his work against the pass. Elliott has already matched his previous career high with 96 tackles, adding 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles and a career-high 3 fumble recoveries in his first season with the Steelers.
Also notable is the fact that DT Montravius Adams, making his way back from IR with a knee injury, logged a full practice Wednesday, though he has yet to be activated to the 53-man roster.