Steelers Injury Central: 2 DNP, 2 Limited on Wednesday

Steelers Injury Central is your home for all Pittsburgh Steelers injury updates, throughout the 2026 season and beyond.

Two Pittsburgh Steelers, starting defensive tackle Derrick Harmon and outside cornerback Jamel Dean, will miss multiple weeks with injuries suffered in Week 4’s loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Additionally, cornerback Jalen Ramsey did not practice on Wednesday, Oct. 7, as he continues to nurse his fractured right wrist. Running back Rico Dowdle and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. were both limited.

Changes in bold. Click the player name to jump to each individual player’s injury. Updated on Oct. 4.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. in a game against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 1, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Michael Pittman Jr. was seen with his injured left foot on a scooter after practice on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and was listed as a limited participant in the session.

Pittman played against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4 and had been a full participant in the team’s practices leading up to that game. Pittman dressed and started after being listed as questionable to play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.

Pittman was downgraded to out for Week 2 after the team’s final practice of Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 19. Pittman did not practice on Thursday or Friday after first being limited in practice with an injury on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Germie Bernard replaced Pittman in Week 2 and would be in line to do so again if he can’t suit up this week.

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jalen Ramsey during a game against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 2, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Defensive back Jalen Ramsey did not practice on Wednesday, Oct. 7. It’s unclear if Ramsey suffered a setback with regards to his fractured right wrist, or if the team is simply managing his reps as he plays through the pain of the injury.

Ramsey played in Week 4 after being listed as questionable and being limited in all three of the team’s practices. He had his arm in a sling for Monday’s practice, but ditched the sling for a cast on Tuesday.

Ramsey played every defensive snap for the Steelers in Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals despite breaking his wrist early in the game.

Brandin Echols will likely replace Ramsey if he can’t return to action.

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Sep 20, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots safety Craig Woodson (4) tackles Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (13) in the first half at Gillette Stadium. — Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Running back Rico Dowdle was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, Oct. 7, his first practice work since suffering a dislocated toe on his left foot in Week 2.

Dowdle did not play in the Steelers’ Week 4 game against the Cleveland Browns after missing all three practice session of the week. He had also been ruled out of the Steelers’ Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Dowdle suffered the toe injury in the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots. He initially left the game, and was listed as questionable, before attempting to return. But Dowdle eventually exited again and was ruled out.

Travis Homer replaced Dowdle in the rotation at running back with Jaylen Warren.
, hamstring, Aug. 21

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Pittsburgh Steelers safety DeShon Elliott in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 16, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Strong safety DeShon Elliott was dressed in uniform for practice on Wednesday, Oct. 7, but the Steelers did not open his 21-day practice window, despite Elliott having completed the mandatory four-week stint on the injured reserve list after previously being designated to return.

Elliott suffered an aggravation of a his 2025 hamstring injury after making his return to game action in the Steelers’ second preseason game against the New York Jets on Aug. 21.

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Jamel Dean at training camp on July 31, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Cornerback Jamel Dean is expected to miss multiple weeks with an aggravation of an ankle injury that he suffered against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. Dean left the game in the first half and was seen in a walking boot afterward.

NFL Network reported on Sunday, Oct. 4 that Dean is expected to miss multiple weeks with the injury. Head coach Mike McCarthy said on Monday, Oct. 5 that Dean will be evaluated on Wednesday, Oct. 6, and will not be placed on injured reserve at this time.

Dean dressed and started after being listed as questionable to play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. Dean did not participate in the team’s first practice of Week 3 on Wednesday, Sept. 23, but was listed as limited in the final two practice sessions of the week.

Dean apparently suffered an ankle injury in the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, and he missed some snaps near the end of the game.

Dean was replaced by Daylen Everette.

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in a game against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 21, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Derrick Harmon was placed on injured reserve on Monday, Oct. 5, and by rule will miss at least four weeks with his left foot injury.

Harmon left his team’s Week 4 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday, Oct. 2. Harmon left the game in the second quarter and was carted off the field. He was later seen at Huntington Bank Field wearing a protective boot.

Harmon was replaced by a combination of Yahya Black and Sebastian Joseph-Day.

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols during a game against the Houston Texans on Jan. 12, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Cornerback Brandin Echols played in Week 4 after being listed as questionable and being as limited in all three of the team’s practices.

Echols left the Steelers’ Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals while being evaluated for a potential concussion. He cleared the NFL concussion protocol on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Echols hit Bengals kick returner Ke’Shawn Williams facemask-to-facemask while attempting to secure a muffed punt. He was first evaluated on the sideline before being taken to the Steelers locker room. He did not return to the game.

Daylen Everette replaced Echols as the Dime defender.

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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Gennings Dunker at minicamp on June 3, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Rookie offensive lineman Gennings Dunker was placed on injured reserve on Saturday, Sept. 26, and is expected to miss four to six weeks with an MCL sprain. Dunker had previously been ruled out of the team’s Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Dunker suffered a knee injury at practice on Thursday, Sept. 24, and did not practice on Friday, Sept. 25. He had been a healthy scratch in Weeks 1 and 2.
, ankle, Aug. 24

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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Jack Driscoll walks off the practice field on Aug. 24, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Offensive lineman Jack Driscoll was placed on the injured reserve list, designated to return, on Aug. 30. He will miss at least the first four games of the season.

Driscoll was not dressed for practice during the portion of the session open to the media on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Driscoll had walked off the practice field with a member of the training staff during the portion of practice that was open to the media on Monday, Aug. 24, and returned with his ankle taped.
, undisclosed, Aug. 3

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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Logan Lee at training camp on Aug. 3, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Steelers defensive tackle Logan Lee was placed on the injured reserve list on Thursday, Aug. 13, which will end his 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the team.

Lee had missed seven straight practices before being placed on IR. The nature of Lee’s injury has not been disclosed.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Cole Burgess at training camp on July 30, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Cole Burgess reverted to the Steelers’ injured reserve list on Wednesday, Aug. 5. He will be out for the remainder of the season, unless he reaches an injury settlement with the team.

Burgess suffered a significant knee injury during training camp practice on Monday, Aug. 3, and was carted off the field at St. Vincent College. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, he was waived with an injury designation.
, ACL surgery, 2025

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Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Kent at rookie minicamp on May 9, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Donte Kent will begin the season on the PUP list, meaning he will miss at least the first four games. Kent was running off to the side on his own during the team’s first training camp practice on Wednesday, July. 29. He was first placed on the PUP list on Tuesday, July 28.

Kent missed his entire rookie season with the Steelers in 2025 with a pair of injuries. He suffered a calf/ankle injury in training camp, and then as he opened his practice window in an attempt to return, Kent suffered an ACL injury that caused him to miss the rest of the season. Kent was a limited participation in spring practice.

Running back Jaylen Warren dressed and started after being listed as questionable to play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. Warren was limited in all three of the team’s practices of the week.

Warren apparently suffered a shoulder injury in the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, but finished the game without issue.

If both Warren and Dowdle miss time, the Steelers will likely call a up a running back from the practice squad.
, ankle, Sept. 13-27

Troy Fautanu was not listed on the team’s injury report for Week 3, and started against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was a full participant in all three practices.

Fautanu played despite being listed as questionable in Week 2. He was a full participant in practice on Friday, Sept. 16 after being a limited participant in practice on Thursday, Sept. 17 after missing the team’s first session of the week on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Fautanu had a player roll up the back of his ankle during the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13.

Dylan Cook moved to left tackle and Max Iheanachor played right tackle while Fautanu was out.
, leg, Sept. 20-27

Offensive lineman Spencer Anderson is dealing with a minor fracture in his leg, but was not listed on the team’s injury report for Week 3, and was a full participant in all three practices. He was dressed for the game against the Bengals, but was one of two dressed players to not suit up.

Anderson apparently suffered the injury in the Steelers’ Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots, but he did not miss any playing time in the game.

It appears that Brock Hoffman could be in line to replace Anderson in the lineup at right guard, regardless of his injury status.
, concussion protocol, Aug. 27-Sept. 12

Ben Skowronek returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Skowronek was cleared from the concussion protocol and was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Skowronek is expected to play in Week 1.

Skowronek left the team’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter, after making a tackle on a kickoff. He was immediately taken to the Pittsburgh locker room and did not return to the game.
, concussion protocol, Aug. 27-Sept. 12

Will Howard returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Howard was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

Howard was cleared from the concussion protocol, and was a participant in the team’s padded practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Thursday, Sept. 3.

Howard reported concussion symptoms after playing in the first half of the Steelers’ preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27.
, oblique, Aug. 7-Sept. 12

Sebastian Joseph-Day returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Joseph-Day was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Joseph-Day first participated in the team’s unpadded practice on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

He was not dressed for practice on Tuesday, Aug. 25, while dealing with an oblique injury that also held him out of the team’s first two preseason games. He did not play in the preseason finale on Aug. 27. There is no specific timetable for his return.

Yahya Black stepped up as the No. 4 defensive lineman in his absence.

Fullback Riley Nowakowski returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Nowakowski was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Nowakowski suffered an ankle injury during the Steelers’ preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills.
, undisclosed, Aug. 7-Sept. 12

Safety Jaquan Brisker returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Brisker was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Brisker did not participate in any of the team’s three preseason games.

He suffered some type of injury late in practice on Friday, Aug. 7, and was not dressed when the Steelers traveled to Latrobe Memorial Stadium for their night practice on Saturday, Aug. 9. Brisker dressed and took part only in individual periods on Monday, Aug. 10.

Robert Spears-Jennings moved into the starting lineup with Brisker out.
, undisclosed, Aug. 24-Sept. 12

Linebacker Payton Wilson returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Wilson was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Wilson was not dressed for the portion of practice open to the media on Tuesday, Aug. 25 with an undisclosed injury, and did not participate in the team’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27.

Wilson was not wearing pads and was a limited participant in practice on Monday, Aug. 24. Wilson played in the team’s second preseason game against the New York Jets on Friday, Aug. 21, and played in 18 snaps without apparent issue.

Cole Holcomb replaced Wilson in the starting lineup while he was out.

Jalen Ramsey returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Ramsey was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Ramsey once again practiced on Tuesday, Aug. 25, after being activated from the physically unable to perform list, but did not participate in the team’s final preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27.

Ramsey was placed on the PUP list with a knee injury on the first day of training camp. Ramsey had been running off to the side running training camp practices. Ramsey suffered a minor knee injury toward the end of the team’s minicamp. The injury did not require surgery.

Brandin Echols replaced Ramsey in the team’s starting lineup.

Michael Pittman Jr. returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Pittman was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Pittman was dressed for practice and was a limited participant on Tuesday, Aug. 25.

Pittman had not been active since he apparently injured his right leg during a 7-on-7 period in the team’s practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium on Aug. 8.

Germie Bernard replaced Pittman in the starting lineup.
, undisclosed, Aug. 8-Sept. 12

DK Metcalf returned to action in the Steelers’ Week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

He was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 1 on Wednesday. Metcalf returned to practice in a limited capacity in Monday. Aug. 24, but did not participate in the team’s preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27.

Metcalf suffered an undisclosed injury during the team’s Saturday night practice at Latrobe Memorial Stadium on Aug. 8.

Max Iheanachor returned to action in the Steelers preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27. He had practiced for the second straight day on Tuesday, Aug. 25, after missing two and a half weeks with an apparent neck/shoulder injury.

Iheanachor left the Steelers’ practice after the first full-speed team period on Thursday, Aug. 6. He walked to the sideline, where head athletic trainer Gabe Amponsah appeared to be working on his neck and right shoulder area. Iheanachor then had a conversation with Dr. Aaron Mares, one of the team’s physicians, and left the practice field, walking up the hill.

Iheanachor was back dressed for Steelers practice on Monday, Aug. 10, even after McCarthy said that he would not take part in the practice session. Iheanachor did not participate in any team periods, but did do some individual work. He did not return to practice until Aug. 24 after that.

Broderick Jones replaced Iheanachor as the second-team right tackle, with Jack Driscoll bumping up to the second team at left tackle.

Slot cornerback Brandin Echols returned to action in the Steeles preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27. He was dressed for practice on Tuesday, Aug. 25 as a limited participant.

Echols did not participate in either of the team’s first two preseason games and was also dressed but not in pads during his team’s practice on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Echols came down awkwardly on his left ankle while jumping for a pass alongside Roman Wilson on Thursday, Aug. 6. Echols limped off the practice field and had a large wrap on his left ankle.

On Monday, Aug, 10, Echols had the walking boot off his injured left ankle. He had been seen with the walking boot on Saturday, Aug. 8.
, undisclosed, Aug. 19-27

Rookie cornerback Daylen Everette returned to play in the Steelers’ preseason finale against the Buffalo Bills. He practiced in pads for the second straight day on Tuesday, Aug. 25 and told Steelers Now that he was feeling good to go after a minor injury. Everette suffered an undisclosed injury and was not dressed in pads for the team’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and he missed the team’s Week 2 preseason game against the New York jets as a result.

Safety Israel Mukuamu was released on Monday, Aug. 24 with an injury settlement.

Mukuamu left practice near the end of the team’s training camp practice on Saturday, Aug. 15, walking up the hill from Chuck Noll Field with team trainers, nursing an undisclosed lower-body injury.

Mukuamu did not participate in the team’s preseason game against the New York Jets on Aug. 21, and was not seen participating during the portion of practice open to the media on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

Kaden Wetjen was a full participant in practice for the second straight practice session on Wednesday, Aug. 19, and he returned to game action against the New York Jets on Aug. 21. Wetjen missed practice on Saturday, Aug. 15 with a left ankle ailment, and was working off to the side with trainers during practice periods.

Keeanu Benton was in the starting lineup for the Steelers’ preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday, Aug. 13. He had returned to practice in team periods on Monday, Aug. 11, and did not have the large wrap on his right hand/wrist during practice. Benton had been limited in practice since about Friday, Aug. 8, and has been seen with a large wrap on his right wrist. Benton had still been active in individual periods, and also has been running off to the side.

Eli Heidenreich played 25 snaps in his preseason debut on Thursday, Aug. 13, after shaking off a right hamstring injury. He was back at practice in a full capacity on Tuesday, Aug. 11, after he returned to practice in a limited form on Monday, Aug. 10. Heidenreich missed the previous three sessions with a right hamstring injury.

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