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.
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.
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).
Mike Adams was a new addition to the injury list today. He did not practice, and is being considered as questionable for the Bills game on Sunday with a rib injury. RT Marcus Gilbert (ankle) is also questionable for Sunday. He was limited today, and if he can’t go, then Guy Whimper will take his place in the line up.
Beachum, DeCastro, Heyward, Miller, Taylor, Velasco, Wheaton and V. Williams are all listed as probable.
Ike Taylor was cleared to practice today and was a full participant. Heath Miller (non-injury), David DeCastro (ankle), Cam Heyward (knee), Fernando Valesco (thigh), and Markus Wheaton (finger) all were full participants today as well.
Vince Williams was cleared to return to practice today and participated in a limited capacity. Kelvin Beachum (knee) and Marcus Gilbert (ankle) were also limited today in practice.
For the Bills:
DNP: WR Robert Woods (ankle).
LIMITED: Marquise Goodwin (hamstring).
FULL: DT Kyle Williams (Achilles); QB Thad Lewis (ribs); QB EJ Manuel (knee).
EJ Manuel is still expected to start this Sunday at Heinz field.
For the Steelers, it went just like Coach Tomlin said it would in his press conference.
Full:
David DeCastro (ankle) and Markus Wheaton (finger).
Limited:
Kelvin Beachum (knee), Marcus Gilbert (ankle), Fernando Velasco (thigh), and Heath Miller (coach’s decision).
DNP:
Ike Taylor (concussion) and LB Vince Williams (concussion).
For the Bills:
E.J. Manuel and Thad Lewis were back to practice today. Manuel missed the last 4 weeks due to a sprained LCL, but is expected to start this week in Pittsburgh barring any setbacks. Lewis is coming back from a rib injury that kept him out last week. WR’s Marquise Goodwin and Robert Woods did not practice today.
As expected, the Steelers announced that they will place LB Sean Spence on Injured Reserve, thus ending his chances of making a return this season. Spence had just a few weeks to show the coaching staff he was ready for the 53 man roster, only 14 months after tearing his ACL and LCL, dislocating his knee cap, and suffering damage to his peroneal nerve.
Spence suffered a broken finger almost immediately after returning to practice last month, which only hurt his limited chances of getting the all clear from coaches. The fact that he was on reserve/PUP to start the season speaks volumes about how far he’s come from such a serious injury. Hopefully we’ll see the young linebacker who was praised by coaches as being a quick student last year, back on the field next spring.
Coach Tomlin gave injury updates today in his weekly press conference. There was a mix of good news and bad news. Both David DeCastro and Markus Wheaton are expected to return to full participation tomorrow. Coach Tomlin said DeCastro was in this morning working out and that he’s “ready to rock and roll”. Of Wheaton, Tomlin said it’s ‘all systems go for him tomorrow’. Kelvin Beachum has a left hip flexor injury and is expected to be limited in the early portion of the week. Cam Heyward has a left knee contusion that will limit him in the early portion of the week. Fernando Velasco has what could be characterized as a thigh injury according to Tomlin, and that should limit him earlier in the week as well.
Tomlin also updated the status of some of the players who were injured during the Patriots game that won’t be practicing in the early portion of the week. Marcus Gilbert suffered a right ankle injury during the game. Ike Taylor and Vince Williams suffered concussions, and will need to go through the various concussion tests before they can resume practice.
No real surprises in terms of Steelers inactives today. QB Landry Jones, WR Markus Wheaton, CB Curtis Brown, TE Rich Gordon, LB Kion Wilson, G David DeCastro, and NT Loni Fangupo are inactive.
For the Patriots:
CB Aqib Talib, WR Kenbrell Thompkins, RB Leon Washington, OL Chris Barker, LB Steve Beauharnais, WR Josh Boyce and DE Jaje Bequette. Talib’s absence will be noticed.