Steelers injury report: Myles Jack cleared, but held out of Steelers’ victory as precaution

Though he had missed the first two practices of the preparation week, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Myles Jack was deemed healthy enough to play in Sunday’s game.

Jack was able and willing to play Sunday, but he did not get onto the field during the Steelers 20-10 win against the New Orleans Saints.

“We had him ready to go. He was willing to go,” coach Mike Tomlin said. “We were going to be prudent about his usage.

“As the game unfolded we liked the mix of the guys we had in there, we were getting off on third down and so conditioning and things of that nature didn’t become a factor. We were able to keep him out of the mix, which was a good thing.”

Jack emerged from his most recent game in the top 10 in the NFL in solo (43) and combined tackles (72). But a knee injury ailed Jack early this week, and he did not practice until Friday. The Steelers started Robert Spillane in his place, and during one of their best defensive performances in recent memory apparently did not see the need to risk Jack.

Minor ailments to major players

Two of the Steelers’ most important skill-position offensive players dealt with minor injuries Sunday that apparently will not hinder them going forward.

Quarterback Kenny Pickett was favoring his left ankle after being sacked by the Saints’ David Onyemata early in the third quarter. Pickett limped between snaps for the final two plays of that possession and was checked out in the medical tent after, but he stayed in the game and showed no visible effects.

“I knew I was staying in,” Pickett said after the game.

More on the Steelers' win over the Saints:

• Steelers right ship with win over Saints
• Steelers come out running vs. Saints, finish with their best rushing game in 6 years
• Returns of T.J. Watt, Damontae Kazee contribute to Steelers’ dominant defensive effort
• Minkah Fitzpatrick underwent appendectomy soon after Steelers’ Saturday walkthrough

“Feels good,” Pickett said moments earlier. “I’ll ice it and be good to go.”

Running back Najee Harris needed evaluated for a concussion after a season-long 36-yard run late in the first quarter.

“I was telling (medical personnel) that I was alright,” Harris said. “ ‘You don’t need to look at this (stuff), I’m alright.’ ”

After the game, Tomlin did not mention any other players as being afflicted by injury. Tight end Pat Freiermuth had a noticeable limp in the locker room after the game, but it is not believed to be serious.

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