Despite being listed as questionable on the final league-mandated status report of the week, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and inside linebacker Myles Jack were in uniform and active for Sunday’s Pittsburgh Steelers regular-season finale.
Fitzpatrick suffered an ankle injury and Jack aggravated a groin ailment during last week’s win at the Baltimore Ravens. Each was limited to just one partial day of practice participation over the past week, but each was cleared to play in Sunday’s must-win game against the Cleveland Browns at Acrisure Stadium.
Despite Jack’s apparent health, the Steelers again elected to have rookie inside linebacker Mark Robinson active. Robinson had played on defense just twice before Sunday, but he started the game in Baltimore and was effective. With the Steelers’ starters at inside linebacker, Devin Bush and Robert Spillane, headed for free agency and Jack a candidate to be a salary-cap casualty, Robinson could enter 2023 with a significant role.
The only Steelers player to miss Sunday’s game because of injury is defensive back Tre Norwood, who was out for a second consecutive game because of a hamstring injury.
Cornerback James Pierre returned against the Browns after entering NFL concussion protocol early during the game in Baltimore.
The Steelers’ healthy scratches against the Browns were No. 3 quarterback Mason Rudolph,outside linebacker Malik Reed, reserve interior lineman Kendrick Green and a pair of recently-acquired defenders in inside linebacker Tae Crowder and defensive lineman Jonathan Marshall.
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