Alex Highsmith limited, MyCole Pruitt full, Najee Harris sits out practice for Steelers
A day after Mike Tomlin said he was “really optimistic” that Alex Highsmith could return to action for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ next game, Highsmith echoed similar sentiments.
“Feeling good,” Highsmith after being characterized as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “My optimism is really, really high. Had a great practice today.”
One of three outside linebackers who were out for this past Sunday’s game at the Las Vegas Raiders, Highsmith has not played since Week 3 because of a groin injury. He seems on track to play when the Steelers host the New York Jets on Sunday night.
“Just gotta keep getting better, but I’m feeling really good about this week,” Highsmith said.
Pruitt fully practices
For the first time in more than a month, veteran tight end MyCole Pruitt was termed as a full participant at practice per the league-mandated injury report.
Pruitt has not played since the Week 2 victory in Denver on Sept. 15. Dealing with a knee injury, Pruitt returned to practice last week but remained limited.
If Pruitt is cleared to face the Raiders, the Steelers might dress five tight ends for a game for the first time in recent memory.
Harris sits out
Starting running back Najee Harris was among nine players who sat out Wednesday’s practice and one of five for whom “injury” was listed as the reason. It is not unusual, though, for Harris to take a Wednesday practice off. Harris has done so four of the past five weeks.
This time, Harris is listed as having a rib injury. Harris was not mentioned among injuries referenced by Tomlin in his weekly news conference Tuesday.
Tomlin already declared that starting center Zach Frazier (ankle) and outside linebacker Nick Herbig (hamstring) would not play Sunday. Returner/running back Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) and safety Damontae Kazee (ankle) also did not participate Wednesday.
Sitting out for reasons of rest were guard Isaac Seumalo, outside linebacker T.J. Watt and defensive linemen Cameron Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi.
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.
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