Leal (neck) is not expected to return this season, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Leal suffered a neck injury back in Week 5 and was placed on injured reserve. A third-round pick in 2022 by Pittsburgh, Leal recorded four tackles (two solo) across five games prior to his injury. The 2025 campaign is currently set to be the final year of his rookie contract.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: DNP in Tuesday's walkthrough
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Watt (ankle) did not participate in Tuesday's walkthrough session, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said after Tuesday's walkthrough that Watt was "walking around rather comfortably," but noted that the star pass rusher is questionable for Saturday's game against Baltimore. Watt was diagnosed with a left low-ankle sprain following Sunday's loss to the Eagles, though he managed to log 2.0 sacks for the third time this season. His absence in Saturday's AFC North clash would be a major blow for the Steelers' defense, but they do have serviceable backups in Nick Herbig and Preston Smith alongside starter Alex Highsmith.
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Steelers' Donte Jackson: Working through pinched nerve
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Jackson did not practice Tuesday due to a pinched nerve in his back that he aggravated this past Sunday against the Eagles, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
Jackson first suffered the injury in Week 14 against the Browns, but he was able to return to that game and finished with three solo tackles. Jackson was able to progress enough in his recovery to suit up against Philadelphia, but he left the game for good in the second quarter after aggravating the injury. An MRI after the game revealed nerve damage in Jackson's back, and he is considered day-to-day ahead of Saturday's AFC North clash against the Ravens.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Hopeful about playing at Baltimore
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Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that he is "optimistic" about Watt's (ankle) chances of playing Saturday against the Ravens, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Watt suffered a left low-ankle sprain during Sunday's loss at Philadelphia, but Tomlin's comments suggest the Steelers aren't too concerned about the star linebacker's availability for a Week 16 matchup that could have important implications on playoff seeding in the AFC. His name will be one to keep an eye out for Tuesday, when the Steelers release their first official practice report of the week.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: Sustains low-ankle sprain
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Watt suffered a left low-ankle sprain during Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Eagles, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Watt played 53 of the Steelers' 80 snaps on defense and logged two sacks among his seven tackles while forcing a fumble, but he departed with 4:50 remaining in the fourth quarter after rolling his left ankle. According to ESPN.com, Watt said after the game that he was in "wait-and-see" mode with regard to his status for a Week 16 game in Baltimore, but the diagnosis of a low-ankle sprain rather than a high-ankle sprain offers hope that the star linebacker will be able to play on a short week.
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Steelers' T.J. Watt: X-rays negative on ankle
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Watt suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Eagles, but X-rays came back negative, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
It's being termed as a "low" ankle injury by coach Mike Tomlin, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports. The Steelers have two more games over the next nine days, traveling to Baltimore next Saturday before a quick turnaround at home against Kansas City the following Wednesday.
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Steelers' Donte Jackson: Done for Week 15 due to back injury
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Jackson (back) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's matchup versus Philadelphia, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Jackson suffered a back injury while making a tackle early in the second quarter. The veteran cornerback was active prior to his exit, tallying three tackles in just over a period of play. James Pierre entered the contest in Jackson's stead.
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Steelers' Donte Jackson: Questionable to return Sunday
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Jackson (back) is questionable to return to Sunday's contest against the Eagles, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Jackson suffered a back injury in the second quarter and needed assistance from the training staff to get off the field. If he's unable to return to the game, James Pierre stands to operate as the Steelers' starting cornerback opposite Joey Porter.
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Steelers' Montravius Adams: Comes off IR for Week 15
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Adams (knee) was activated off injured reserve Saturday and does not have an injury designation for Sunday's game against Philadelphia, Steelers Senior Director of Communications Burt Lauten reports.
Per Lauten, Adams is expected to play Sunday. The veteran defensive tackle missed each of the Steelers' past six contests while dealing with a knee issue. Adams will likely take on a rotational role upon his return.
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Steelers' Larry Ogunjobi: Out for Week 15
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Ogunjobi (groin) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
The veteran defensive tackle from Charlotte didn't practice all week after sustaining a groin injury in Pittsburgh's Week 14 win over the Browns, so missing Sunday's contest comes as no surprise. Isaiahh Loudermilk will likely have an increased role with the Steelers' first-team defense in Ogunjobi's stead in Week 15.
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Steelers' DeShon Elliott: Won't play Sunday
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Elliott (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Elliott's absence Sunday comes as no surprise, as the 27-year-old was unable to practice all week after sustaining a hamstring injury in the Steelers' Week 14 win over the Browns. Damontae Kazee is expected to serve as Pittsburgh's starting strong safety while Elliott is sidelined in Week 15.
Elliott (hamstring) didn't practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
The veteran safety from Texas played 61 defensive snaps and recorded 13 total tackles and one pass defended in the Steelers' Week 14 win over the Browns. However, it now appears he picked up a hamstring injury in the process. If Elliott is forced to miss the Steelers' Week 15 matchup against the Eagles on Sunday, Damontae Kazee will likely start alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick as part of Pittsburgh's top safety duo.
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Steelers' Larry Ogunjobi: Misses Wednesday's practice
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Ogunjobi (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Ogunjobi played nine defensive snaps and recorded two total tackles in Steelers' Week 14 win over the Browns before exiting with a groin injury. Wednesday's DNP suggests Ogunjobi is likely at risk of missing additional time, so he'll need to upgrade to at least limited practice Thursday or Friday in order to play in Week 15, when the Steelers travel to Philadelphia.
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Steelers' Keeanu Benton: Picks off pass in win
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Benton recorded a tackle and an interception in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns.
Perhaps not surprisingly, it was the nose tackle's first interception of his two-year career. Benton does have six pass breakups in 2024 to go along with 23 tackles (12 solo).
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Steelers' Alex Highsmith: Picks up sack in win
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Highsmith recorded three tackles (two solo), including 1.0 sacks and an additional tackle for a loss, in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns.
The linebacker returned with a strong game after missing the previous three contests due to an ankle injury. Highsmith now has 22 tackles (13 solo), including 4.0 sacks, and a pass breakup in 2024.
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Steelers' Cameron Heyward: Two sacks in win
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Heyward recorded two sacks among his five tackles (three solo) in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns.
The veteran defensive lineman is now up to eight sacks on the season, putting him in striking distance of matching the career-best 12 he tallied in 2017. The 35-year-old hasn't shown any signs of slowing down, as he's played in all 13 of the Steelers' games while logging at least 59 percent of the defensive snaps in each contest.
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Steelers' Patrick Queen: All over field in win
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Queen recorded 10 tackles (five solo) and a pass breakup in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns.
The inside linebacker also played on every defensive snap for the 11th time in 13 games. Queen has 98 tackles (47 solo) in his first campaign with the Steelers, and he's probably a game away from his fourth 100-stop output in five pro seasons. The former Raven also has five pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2024.
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Steelers' DeShon Elliott: Leads team in tackles again
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Elliott registered 13 tackles (nine solo) and a pass breakup in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Browns.
The safety led the Steelers in tackles for the second week in a row after recording 11 in the team's Week 13 win over the Bengals. Elliott has now matched his career high with 96 stops (64 solo) in 2024. He also has six pass breakups, including an interception, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
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Steelers' Donte Jackson: Returns to the field
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Jackson (back) is back in the game versus the Browns on Sunday, Dale Lolley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Jackson left the game briefly after hurting his back, but the injury was not serious enough to sideline him for the remainder of the matchup. He will resume his role as the team's top corner opposite Joey Porter.
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Steelers' Larry Ogunjobi: Ruled out versus Browns
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Ogunjobi (groin) won't return to Sunday's matchup versus Cleveland, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.
Ogunjobi will miss the remainder of the game after suffering a groin injury in the first quarter. Isaiahh Loudermilk has now replaced Ogunjobi as the team's top defensive end.
