The injury report has just been released, and here’s what it looks like~
OUT: Shamarko Thomas (ankle).
DOUBTFUL: LaMarr Woodley (calf).
QUESTIONABLE: Ramon Foster (ankle) and Brett Keisel (heel).
PROBABLE: Mike Adams (ribs), Kelvin Beachum (hip), David DeCastro (ankle), Marcus Gilbert (ankle), Heath Miller (non-injury) and Fernando Velasco (knee).
Woodley, Foster, and Keisel would be surprises to play. All of them missed practice again today.
Most of the offensive line returned to full participation today during practice. Mike Adams (ribs), Kelvin Beachum (hip), David DeCastro (ankle), Marcus Gilbert (ankle) and Fernando Velasco (knee) were all full participants today. Ramon Foster however, did not participate again today. Guy Whimper told media that he has been practicing at left guard, and is preparing to start against the Lions. He did add however that, “ I prepare to start every week because you never know. It’s the NFL. Guys get banged up.”
Brett Keisel (foot) and LaMarr Woodley (calf) also did not participate in practice for the second day in a row.
Lions beat reporter Kyle Meinke reported earlier that Calvin Johnson missed a second consecutive practice today. Lions typically give ‘Megatron’ a maintenance day off from practice, but two in a row is unusual according to various Lions writers. Johnson says he will play against the Steelers this Sunday. “Body’s feeling good,” Johnson said. “Just got some maintenance issues we’re taking care of. As far as that goes — you know how that goes — you have to talk to coach.”
Johnson has been battling knee issues ever since training camp, but it hasn’t hampered him during the games he’s played. Johnson wasn’t quite the one man team he usually is after the bye week, so perhaps his knee is a bigger issue than he’s letting on. Either way, the Steelers secondary hasn’t faced a WR of his caliber this season, and they’ll need to execute the gameplan with perfection to keep him from making the big plays that he’s known for. See the Cowboys game of week 8 for further details.
The Steelers host the Detroit Lions this Sunday at Heinz Field. Kickoff is at 1:00 Est., and the game will be televised on Fox with Thom Brennaman and Brian Billick as commentators.
You can see if your local Fox affiliate will be broadcasting the game in the map below.
H/t the506
Red- Steelers vs. Lions
Blue- Eagles vs. Redskins
Green- Bucs vs. Falcons
Yellow- Jaguars vs. Cardinals
Grey- no game
The list of walking wounded was a little longer than usual today. Ramon Foster (ankle), Brett Keisel (foot), Fernando Velasco (knee), and LaMarr Woodley (calf) did not practice. Sharmarko Thomas has already been ruled out of this week’s game due to the high ankle sprain he suffered on Sunday. Ramon Foster was reportedly walking around the facility without a walking boot.
Kelvin Beachum (hip), David DeCastro (ankle), Marcus Gilbert (ankle), Heath Miller (not injury related) were all limited in practice. Basically, the entire starting offensive line was either out or limited in practice today. Mike Adams was a full participant.
The Steelers will be donning the much maligned “Bumble Bee” jerseys this Sunday against the Detroit Lions. This is the only game that the team will wear the throwback uniforms this season. The uniforms drew a great amount of criticism last season, but at least no one could complain about block numbers for a couple weeks. The uniforms will likely have a warmer reception this year, as Casey Hampton is no longer on the roster. 🙂
Here’s a refresher on the 1934 throwback in case you forgot exactly how they look.
Ben did his weekly radio spot this morning. Some of the topics they covered included the trade rumors, and his relationship with Todd Haley. When asked if sees himself as a Steeler for the rest of the career, Ben says he hopes so, and that there’s no other organization in the world that he’d rather play for than this one.
Some other topics they discuss are “rebuilding”, the wind on Sunday, Heath, and the mentality of the team repairing the season. Ben also confirmed what I said during the gameday thread that Markus Wheaton made a mistake on his route during the interception that happened early in the 1st quarter. Ben closes the interviewing praising Bell and Dwyer, saying that Dwyer has brought an energy that fires up the o-line, an energy that’s just awesome. You can listen below.
H/T 93.7 TheFan
Coach Tomlin held his weekly press conference with the media today. He gave injury updates, discussed the challenges the team faces against the Lions, the Ben trade rumors, Jonathan Dwyer, the Tight Ends, and a lot more. Obviously, you can listen below.
In today’s press conference Coach Tomlin gave updates on the players who were injured during the Bills game on Sunday. Shamarko Thomas has a high ankle sprain and Tomlin said he can be considered OUT for this week’s game against the Detroit Lions. Ramon Foster has a right ankle sprain and will be limited earlier in the week. Brett Keisel has plantar fasciitis (heel), and will be limited in the earlier portion of the week.
LaMarr Woodley has a calf strain that will limit him early in the week, and Fernado Velasco has a knee contusion that will also likely limit him earlier in the week. Tomlin also mentioned some players that he characterized as having bumps and bruises, who he didn’t anticipate having their participation altered much or at all this week- Mike Adams (ribs) Kelvin Beachum (left hip flexor), David DeCastro (ankle), and Marcus Gilbert (ankle).
This week’s depth chart is out, and it isn’t very different from last week. One change of note is TE Michael Palmer moving up to the #2 spot behind Heath Miller. Palmer saw playing time this Sunday on offense against the Bills, and David Paulson, who is now listed at #3, did not.
Regarding Palmer’s advancement on the depth chart, Coach Tomlin said, “Mike’s been earning it in practice. (He’s) been very consistent…doing a nice job and we want the reps on Sunday to represent that, and that’s why he’s been given more opportunity -and will- if he takes advantage of it.”
You can view the chart below.
