Two of the three players that coach Mike Tomlin characterized as “doubtful” to play in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ next game were on the practice field Wednesday.
Running back Jaylen Warren and reserve tight end MyCole Pruitt were deemed as limited participants at practice, per the league-mandated injury report. Each has missed multiple games because of a respective knee injury.
Warren said he has received “a bunch of treatment” over the past three weeks since suffering the injury during the Sept. 22 game and “felt good” during Wednesday’s practice.
“I’ve got to be smart about it,” Warren said. “My family and coaches talk to me about it all the time. As urgent as I am to try to get back out there, I have to be smart.”
The Steelers have five tight ends on their active roster, and in lieu of Warren and veteran Cordarrelle Patterson at running back the team has turned to Aaron Shampklin and Jonathan Ward off its practice squad. Tomlin said Patterson (ankle) will miss a second consecutive game because of an ankle injury.
A third player Tomlin said was doubtful to play Sunday for the Steelers at the Las Vegas Raiders, safety Damontae Kazee, did not practice at all. Kazee suffered an ankle injury during this past Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Also injured during that game and already deemed out for the Raiders game were edge defenders Nick Herbig (hamstring) and DeMarvin Leal (neck). Neither practiced Wednesday. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith also did not practice and will miss a third straight game Sunday.
As Tomlin said Tuesday, first-string quarterback Russell Wilson was a full participant at practice for the first time since early in Week 1. Wilson, who has been dealing with a calf injury for more than two months, led the second-team offense.
A number of veterans were given the day off from practice: running back Najee Harris, guard Isaac Seumalo, outside linebacker T.J. Watt, defensive linemen Larry Ogunjobi and Cameron Heyward and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (Fitzpatrick took part in practice on a limited basis).
Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.