Herbig (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Herbig was able to start his week of practice with a limited session, a strong sign for the linebacker's playing chances for Sunday's game against the Browns. Every front-seven player will be key for a Steelers defense that may be without T.J. Watt (lung) yet again. Herbig will have two more chances to upgrade his practice participation in the hopes of dodging an injury designation ahead of Sunday's divisional matchup.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Officially limited to open Week 17
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Watt (chest) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Watt missed the Steelers' last two games while recovering from a procedure to repair a partially collapsed lung. The veteran pass rusher was able to log a limited practice to open the week, and he would likely avoid an injury designation for Sunday's AFC North tilt against the Browns if he were to fully practice by Friday. His return would likely result in rookie Jack Sawyer reverting to a rotational role behind Watt and Alex Highsmith.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Back at practice
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Watt (lung) was spotted participating in Wednesday's practice, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
The 31-year-old missed the Steelers' Week 16 win over the Lions while recovering from a partially collapsed lung, but he's already returned to the field Wednesday. In 13 appearances this season, Watt has tallied 53 total tackles, including 7.0 sacks, seven passes defensed, with an interception, and three forced fumbles. The All-Pro edge rusher likely needs to practice in full Thursday or Friday in order to avoid an injury designation in the Week 17 matchup against the Browns.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen: Tallies seven stops Saturday
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Queen logged seven tackles (four solo) in Pittsburgh's win over the Lions on Sunday.
Queen played every defensive snap and matched Kyle Dugger for the most tackles on the team during the victory. The 26-year-old has now compiled 113 tackles (53 solo), including 1.0 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, and will look to add to his totals during the Week 17 matchup versus the Browns.
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Steelers' Kyle Dugger: Logs sack vs. Detroit
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Dugger tallied seven tackles (six solo), including 1.0 sacks, during Pittsburgh's win versus the Lions on Sunday.
Dugger had his best performance of the campaign during the victory, as he racked up a season-high seven tackles in addition to recording his first sack. The 2020 second-round pick has compiled just 32 tackles (17 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and an interception across seven outings, but he'll look to be more productive across the final two games of the season.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Potential participation in Week 17
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Coach Mike Tomlin has no new updates on Watt (lung), but implied there may be participation in the early parts of Week 17, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Watt has seemed to be solely focused on recovering from his partially collapsed lung, but Tomlin's comments today implied that the coaching staff is aware of the outside linebacker's progress and that he might have a chance to participate in practice this week. If the Steelers can take the win over the Browns on Sunday, they would clinch the AFC North, and Watt would have a stress-free Week 18 to further recover before Wild Card Weekend.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Ruled out with groin injury
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Echols (groin) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Lions, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Echols sustained a groin injury in the first half of Sunday's game and was quickly ruled out. Asante Samuel will likely take over at slot cornerback for the injured starter.
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Steelers' Brandin Echols: Doubtful to return
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Echols (groin) is doubtful to return to Sunday's matchup against the Lions, Burt Lauten of Pittsburgh's official site reports.
Echols is likely done for the day after sustaining a groin injury in the first half of the game. Asante Samuel should see increased playing time if Echols is unable to return versus Detroit.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Return date murky
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Watt (lung) is focusing on getting healthy, and a date for him to return to action is uncertain, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Schefter indicates that Watt's focus is simply on recovering from his partially collapsed lung, with a return to play currently a secondary concern. The star linebacker has already been ruled out for Sunday's Week 16 game against Detroit, and it's not clear if he even has a chance to play in Week 17 against Cleveland. Watt would need to get medical clearance for him to return against the Browns, though Schefter suggests that "ideally Watt gets more time to recover" from the lung injury.
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Raiders' Brodric Martin: Bound for Sin City
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The Raiders claimed Martin off waivers from the Steelers on Friday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Martin will be with his third team of the season after spending time with the Chiefs and Steelers. His lone regular-season appearance came in the Steelers' Week 13 loss to the Bills, when he logged 12 snaps (10 on defense, two on special teams) without showing up in the box score otherwise.
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Steelers' Nick Herbig: Unlikely to play vs. Detroit
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Herbig (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Lions, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Herbig managed to log a limited practice Friday, but his hamstring injury appears to be severe enough that he'll likely be sidelined for Sunday's contest. With T.J. Watt (calf) already ruled out, rookie fourth-rounder Jack Sawyer would be the top candidate to start at edge rusher opposite Alex Highsmith if Herbig is sidelined for Week 16.
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Steelers' James Pierre: Won't play Week 16
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Pierre (calf) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Pierre will end up missing a second straight game due to a calf injury that he likely picked up during the Steelers' Week 14 win over the Ravens. Asante Samuel -- who intercepted Tua Tagovailoa during Pittsburgh's Week 15 victory over Miami -- will likely start at outside corner opposite Joey Porter on Sunday in Pierre's absence.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Not playing vs. Detroit
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Watt (chest) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Watt continues to be sidelined due to a partially collapsed lung that he underwent surgery for during Week 15 prep, which will result in the superstar pass rusher being sidelined for Sunday's contest. Watt would likely have to return to practice in at least a limited capacity to have a realistic chance of returning for the Steelers' Week 17 road tilt against the Browns on Sunday, Dec. 28. With Watt out and Nick Herbig (hamstring) listed as doubtful, rookie fourth-rounder Jack Sawyer could be thrust into a starting role opposite Alex Highsmith against Detroit.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: No practice Thursday
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Watt (chest) did not practice Thursday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Watt remains sidelined at practice as he continues his recovery from surgery to address a collapsed lung. He missed Monday's win over the Dolphins and appears unlikely to retake the field in time for Sunday's road matchup against the Lions.
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Steelers' James Pierre: Remains sidelined at practice
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Pierre (calf) did not participate at practice Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Pierre was unavailable for the team's Week 15 win over the Dolphins due to a calf injury, and he has now missed four straight practices. The cornerback will have two more opportunities to practice in some capacity before Sunday's contest in Detroit.
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Steelers' Derrick Harmon: Practicing fully
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Harmon (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Harmon hasn't played since Week 12 but appears to be ready to return to the lineup for Sunday's Week 16 date with the Lions. The first-round rookie defensive lineman has produced 22 tackles (nine solo), including 2.0 sacks, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery across 331 defensive snaps this season.
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Steelers' Nick Herbig: Misses practice Wednesday
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Herbig (hamstring) did not participate at practice Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Herbig sustained a hamstring injury during the team's 28-15 win over the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, and he has now opened the week on the sidelines at practice. The linebacker will have two more chances to return to practice before Sunday's matchup with the Lions.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Misses practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Watt (lung) did not practice Wednesday.
Watt is still recovering from surgery to address a collapsed lung last week. With Watt missing this past Monday night's win over the Dolphins, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig (hamstring) and Jack Sawyer paced the edge rushers in playing time for the Steelers.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen: Leading tackler in win
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Queen registered 10 tackles (nine solo) during Pittsburgh's win over the Dolphins on Monday.
Queen led the Steelers in tackles during the victory and has now totaled double-digit stops in five outings this season. Across 14 games played, the 26-year-old has compiled 106 tackles (49 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and will look to keep producing during the team's Week 16 matchup against the Lions.
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Steelers' Nick Herbig: Picks up hamstring injury in win
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Herbig suffered a hamstring injury in Monday night's 28-15 win over the Dolphins, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Herbig was thrust into a starting role in Week 15 with T.J. Watt (chest) unavailable, and he notched one tackle in the contest. He appears to have left the game a little worse for wear, and his status at practice will be worth monitoring ahead of the team's matchup with the Lions on the road Sunday.
