Steelers notes: Team will wait to make move in wake of Diontae Johnson injury

Diontae Johnson was present and donning his practice jersey as he walked the locker room at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex after Wednesday’s practice. He definitively, though, will not be wearing his game jersey when the Pittsburgh Steelers play their next game Monday.

“I’m acknowledging that he’s out this week,” coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday,

In regards to a roster move regarding the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver, though, don’t expect that until closer to the Monday night game against the Cleveland Browns.

Injured reserve rules in the NFL are based on a minimum number of games missed, not counted in days or weeks. Johnson (hamstring) and defensive lineman Cameron Heyward — who is expected to miss several weeks because of a groin injury that requires surgery — won’t be placed on IR until necessary by the NFL to set the playing roster against the Browns.

“The IR component of that happens on a game-by-game basis, and we don’t play until Monday so that decision doesn’t have to be made until prior to that game,” Tomlin said. “So it’s low-priority for us.”

Coincidentally, the Steelers have four games before their bye week (the weekend of Oct. 15), so if/when Johnson and Heyward go on IR (provided it’s before Monday afternoon), they would be afforded a minimum six weeks of rest between games.

“We are holding our cards until we have to make a decision,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin definitively ruling Johnson out for the Cleveland game was a little stronger language than he used Tuesday when he said Johnson was “probably” unavailable for the game.

The Steelers are expected to modify their roster by a 4 p.m. pregame deadline Monday. While players from the outside are expected to be added to the organization, internal options via elevations from the practice squad include Dez Fitzpatrick, Simi Fehoko and Jacob Copeland (signed Monday) at wide receiver and Breiden Fehoko and Jonathan Marshall on the defensive line.

Wide receiver Gunner Olszewski has been on the active roster but was inactive for the Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

“Obviously, you know Diontae is a really good player, does so many good things for us,” quarterback Kenny Pickett said. “I thought we had a great offseason and were doing great things in the game. Just now it’s everyone’s got to step up and pick it up. It can’t just be one guy. But I’ve had a ton of reps with everybody. So I’m confident they’ll go out there and execute.”

Daniels: ‘I’ll be fine’

Tomlin on Tuesday listed four other starters for whom the team was “optimistic about,” suggesting they would be limited in practice early in the practice week. Among that group was right guard James Daniels, who came off the field into the locker room in full practice gear after Wednesday’s practice.

Daniels, who was spotted in a walking boot Monday, made it clear he expects to play against the Browns.

“I’ll be fine,” Daniels said.

McCollum brought back

The Steelers replenished their practice squad to the full allotment of 16 players with the signing of offensive lineman Ryan McCollum on Wednesday.

McCollum was part of the final cuts at the end of the preseason two weeks ago after he’d spent all but four days of last season on the Steelers’ practice squad in addition to all of the offseason and training camp on a reserve/future deal. McCollum, who can play guard or center, was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Lions in August 2022.

The Steelers on Tuesday had released two players from their practice squad and signed one (Copeland).

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