A day after having about as clean a midseason injury report as possible, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday had an addition Thursday.
A big name, too.
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt did not practice for what was listed as a heel injury. Watt, the NFL’s co-leader in sacks, was not listed on Wednesday’s injury report. It was known Watt had a finger injury — he was spotted in the locker room with a heavy amount of tape on his hand. But the heel apparently is something that popped up this week.
It is not expected to prevent Watt from playing in Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Rams.
Speaking before practice before the heel ailment was known, defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said Watt would not be hindered by the finger injury.
The Steelers will practice Friday, after which the status report for Sunday’s game will be released. Friday is also Watt’s weekly session with media.
Freiermuth limited
Tight end Pat Freiermuth was downgraded to a limited practice participant Thursday, a day after he fully took part in a session as he comes back from a hamstring injury that prevented him from playing in the Steelers’ most recent game, an Oct. 8 win against the Baltimore Ravens.
Freiermuth steadfastly has said he will be able to play Sunday in Los Angeles.
Also remaining on track to return are punter Pressley Harvin (hamstring), left tackle Dan Moore (knee) and right guard James Daniels (groin). Each practiced fully for a second consecutive day.
“The groin is good,” said Daniels, who missed the past two games. “The rehab went great. I have good trainers who did a good job taking care of me.”
Reserve interior offensive lineman Nick Herbig remained a partial participant Thursday because of a quad injury.
Receiver Diontae Johnson (hamstring) and reserve running back Anthony McFarland (knee) have practiced fully each of the past two days during a week in which they were cleared to return to practice yet remain on injured reserve. Each is in a 21-day window in which he must be activated to return to the active roster, which could come as soon as Sunday.
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Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris by email at cadamski@triblive.com or via Twitter .