JuJu Smith-Schuster only starter to remain absent from Steelers’ practice
David DeCastro practiced for a second consecutive day, and six other starters who missed practice a day prior returned to the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday.
The lone exception, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, remains out because of a nagging knee injury.
Smith-Schuster also missed practice time last week because of a knee ailment, but he played 91% of the Steelers’ offensive snaps during Sunday’s win against the Denver Broncos. Smith-Schuster was made available to the media for a video conference call Wednesday, an atypical move for a player expected to miss time because of injury.
DeCastro, a five-time Pro Bowl guard, made it through a second consecutive practice apparently unscathed as he ramps up to return from a knee injury suffered during a scrimmage last month. If DeCastro is cleared to reclaim his right guard spot for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans, he will be the Steelers’ third different starter in three games there.
Stefen Wisniewski started the opener but was put on injured reserve after suffering a pectoral injury. Rookie Kevin Dotson started his first career game last week. Pro Football Focus, in its subjective grades, rated Dotson’s performance the best among all guards — veteran or rookie — in terms of Week 2 pass protection.
“I know just his personality and just how hard he has worked to put himself in position,” offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said of DeCastro, “so to get him back will be awesome.”
Receiver Diontae Johnson (toe) and defensive lineman Tyson Alualu (knee) were full practice participants after both had missed Wednesday’s session. A late addition to the injury report was reserve interior offensive lineman J.C. Hassenauer, who practiced fully but has an ankle injury.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, center Maurkice Pouncey and defensive linemen Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt practiced Thursday after being given a day off Wednesday.
The Steelers (2-0) host the Texans (0-2) at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
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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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