It was an encouraging day for two injured players coach Mike Tomlin has stressed are important to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ run defense.

Defensive lineman Tyson Alualu took to the practice field for the first time since suffering a knee-ligament injury 10 days prior, and slot cornerback Mike Hilton was designated a full practice participant for the first time in four weeks Wednesday.

Hilton suffered a shoulder injury during a win against the Cleveland Browns on Oct. 18. Although he had been listed as a limited participant on the league-mandated injury report at times in recent weeks, Wednesday was the first day he was given the “full participant” designation.

Alualu did not practice at all last week after suffering his injury during a win at the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 1. National reports pegged his absence at 1-2 weeks.

During his weekly news conference Tuesday, Tomlin said that Hilton, Alualu and fullback Derek Watt “have a chance to play this week” when the Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on Sunday.

Watt has missed four of the past five games because of a hamstring injury. He was a full participant at Wednesday’s practice.

The player who started in Alualu’s place at nose tackle this past Sunday, Isaiah Buggs, did not practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury. Buggs missed practice time last week, too, but played 28 defensive snaps during Sunday’s 24-19 win at the Dallas Cowboys.

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