Steelers notes: T.J. Watt fine, signs point to Diontae Johnson also playing vs. Rams

It was early in the first quarter of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most recent game when the pinky finger on T.J. Watt’s left hand was badly dislocated.

Watt, though, didn’t realize the extent of it until the game was over.

“When I took my glove off and it was the size of a hamburger patty,” Watt said Friday, “that’s when I knew.”

Twelve days later, Watt’s finger is more of an annoyance than anything that might hinder him for Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Rams.

“It feels a lot better,” Watt said after taking part in Friday’s practice at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “Just one of those things I need to deal with until it gets back to 100% form, whatever that looks like. But it’s something I can deal with and manage, for sure.”

A heel ailment of some degree that popped up this week falls into the same category for Watt. He missed Thursday’s practice because of the heel, according to the league-mandated injury report, but was back fully taking part Friday.

Watt termed the heel injury as “minor.”

“I feel great,” Watt said Friday. “Had a good day at practice today.”

Olszewski to be cut

Veteran receiver Gunner Olszewski is going to be released, presumably to make room on the active roster for the return of No. 1 WR Diontae Johnson. Johnson has been on injured reserve since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 1 but returned to practice this week.

Olszewski’s impending release was reported by the NFL Network.

The Steelers rarely have chosen to carry more than five wide receivers at any given time. Johnson would re-join fellow starter George Pickens, veteran Allen Robinson II, speedy youngster Calvin Austin III and special-teams ace Miles Boykin in forming the Steelers’ WR corps.

A former All-Pro punt returner, Olszewski was signed in spring of 2022 to serve as the Steelers’ kick and punt returner. But he lost both gigs after four weeks because of a pair of fumbles.

Olszewski stuck around, though, as a bit player for the offense. And though Austin won the returner jobs this season, Olszewski, at times, stepped in those roles. But his performance in 2023 has been disastrous: among four official touches (one catch, one punt return and two kick returns) Olszewski has fumbled twice, and on a Week 2 kick return, he made a puzzling decision to “toe-tap” a kickoff along the sidelines. Kickoffs that go out of bounds are penalties that benefit the receiving team.

Daniels, Moore to return

The Steelers will have their starting five back together on the offensive line. Left tackle Dan Moore and right guard James Daniels, both starters, missed at least one game each but made it through a full week of practice and were given the green light to play Sunday.

Moore suffered a knee injury during a loss to the Houston Texans on Oct. 1 and missed the subsequent game at home against the Baltimore Ravens. Daniels missed both of those games because of a groin ailment.

Also declared good to go for the Rams game were punter Pressley Harvin III and reserve offensive lineman Nate Herbig. Harvin missed two games because of a hamstring injury, and Herbig was limited early this week because of a quad injury. Herbig had started the past two games in Daniels’ stead.

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