Updated on 12/20: Safety DeShon Elliott has been downgraded to out for Saturday’s game against the Ravens. This will be the second straight game Elliott will miss with his hamstring injury.
Thursday injury report: The Steelers wrapped up their preparation for Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, with health a hot topic this week.
Receiver George Pickens, linebacker T.J. Watt, safety DeShon Elliott, cornerback Donte Jackson, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi and quarterback Justin Fields are among those who have been dealing with injuries.
Pickens and Fields have been ruled out for Saturday, Elliott is out (was listed as doubtful on original injury report on Thursday 12/19), Ogunjobi and Jackson are questionable, while Watt has no injury designation.
The Steelers were without Pickens the last two weeks as he has been dealing with a hamstring injury.
Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith knows teams will defend against them differently without Pickens, but they just have to be ready for it.
“Probably changes their calls schematically, and that is your job,” said Smith. “Nobody cares. Nobody is feeling sorry for you on the other side. You have to have the mindset nobody is coming to rescue you.
“I think sometimes in this league you want your best players out there. When they’re not, what are you going to do about it? I think sometimes people fall into that victimhood of complaining and whining. That ball is kicking off at 4:30, whatever time on Saturday, and we got to go win. We’ve got to be better at the things we can all do.
“Sometimes change up some scheme things or sometimes just as simple as executing a better block up front or running a better route or delivering a better ball.
“A lot goes into it. Obviously like to have everybody. That’s not the reality. You’ve got to find a way to problem solve.”
Coach Mike Tomlin made it clear earlier this week that any players who are healthy will play on Saturday, especially with the AFC North title on the line.
“If they’re healthy and available, they go. And that’s generally the mindset that we’re in,” said Tomlin. “This is a big game. We have an opportunity to solidify the division this week, and so rest assured that healthy people are going to play in this game.
“Those that are capable of playing, are going to play in this game and we’re not going to look ahead to potentially what happens on the other side of it. We’ve got definitive, tangible things to pursue this week. Divisional championship. I think that merits all hands on deck.
“We’re playing for a division title this week. Those that are healthy will play.”
Elliott missed last week’s game against the Eagles, and if he can’t go on Saturday, it will create some changes on the defense just like it did last week.
“It’s changes us a little bit in terms of job description and who does what, but in terms of structure, didn’t change us a ton,” said defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “So, we’ll see. Hopefully he’ll be back out here this week, and we’ll get back to that.
“The biggest thing with him, though, is in terms of how physical he plays and the temperament he brings and the things he does in the run game are pretty exceptional. I think the guy has been having a great year.
“We know all about T.J. and those guys. But I think quietly this guy has been having an outstanding yeah, really top-notch.”
While Austin classifies him as having a top-notch season, he also understands the next man up mentality has to be in play.
“It’s kind of what the NFL is all about,” said Austin. “You’re going to lose guys from time to time. The guys behind, we have confidence in them coming in and playing and being able to hold the job down and get it done.
“Doesn’t mean they’ll get it done the same way. Nevertheless, counting on them to get it done. That’s how we’ll move forward. We don’t have a pity party because we are losing somebody. Everybody is missing people at this point of the year.
“The biggest thing is how do the guys that have to step into roles, how do they do when their opportunity is presented to them.”
The full injury report is below.