Little clarity emerged from Wednesday’s status report in regards to which of the injured Pittsburgh Steelers will be available to play in Thursday night’s game against the New England Patriots.

Four starters — running back Najee Harris, center Mason Cole, left guard Isaac Seumalo and inside linebacker Elandon Roberts — were designated as questionable in the final injury report of the short week. The closest thing of the week to a full regular practice for the Steelers was held Wednesday, and it was closed to media.

According to the injury report, Seumalo and Harris did not participate in practice, and Roberts and Cole were limited participants.

Seumalo (shoulder) and Roberts (groin) each were forced out of Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals because of first-half injuries. That Seumalo trended “downward” (he was listed a limited participant for Tuesday’s walkthrough) perhaps could be viewed as a discouraging sign. However, it is not uncommon for Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to give veterans such as Seumalo days of rest regardless of their injury status.

Cole has a neck injury that has had him listed as “limited” each of the three days this week. Harris was a Tuesday addition to the injury report, and he has been given a “did not participate” status each of the past two days.

Veteran Nate Herbig is the top backup at guard and center, and he replaced Seumalo and played the entire second half Sunday. In the event neither Seumalo nor Cole can play, rookie Spencer Anderson likely would make his first NFL start. A seventh-round pick, Anderson has appeared in three regular-season games with seven snaps played on the kick block team and one snap played as an extra tight end on offense.

If Roberts cannot play, one or both of the recently unretired veterans at the position on the the Steelers roster — Blake Martinez or Myles Jack — likely would have a role next to Mykal Walker, himself a recently signed fill-in after season-ending injuries suffered by Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander.

Harris never has missed a game in more than 2½ seasons as a pro. Jaylen Warren has increasingly served as a “1A” to him this season, and the Steelers also have running backs Anthony McFarland and Godwin Igwebuike on their 53-man roster and former Pitt star Qadree Ollison on their practice squad.

Aside from the previously announced loss of quarterback Kenny Pickett, the only player the Steelers designated as not available to play against the Patriots is reserve cornerback James Pierre.

After a four-game absence because of an ankle injury, veteran defensive tackle Montravius Adams was cleared to return to game action Thursday. Rookie defensive lineman Keeanu Benton also was given the official green light despite an oblique injury that ailed him this week.

As expected, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward (groin) and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (broken hand) were officially cleared to play Thursday.

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