The Steelers began preparing today for Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals and there was good news.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was back on the field and a full participant for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury against the Jaguars in Week 8. Fitzpatrick has missed the last four games and has yet to practice during that period until today.
Coach Mike Tomlin said during his weekly press conference that “the light is on” for Fitzpatrick and nose tackle Montravius Adams to return to action this week. Adams has been sidelined since his injury against the Titans and has missed the last three games, but he was back in action as a full participant on Wednesday.
“I turned the lights on for Minkah and Mon Adams this week,” Tomlin said. “Both guys will be participants in some capacity (Wednesday). And then we’ll be guided by the quantity of participation and the quality of participation as we focus on the later part of the week, but we’re cautiously optimistic about both.”
Quarterback Kenny Pickett has been dealing with what Tomlin described as “ankle discomfort,” which he said might limit him a bit early in the week, but he was all in on Wednesday.
Receiver Calvin Austin III was the only injured player out of last week’s Bengals game after suffering an ankle injury in the game.
“He might be a little limited early in the week,” Tomlin said. “We will be guided by the quality and extent of that participation as to its availability.”
With Austin’s potential limited since he didn’t practice on Wednesday, the team signed receiver Jacob Copeland to the practice squad on Tuesday. This is Copeland’s second stint on the Steelers’ practice squad this season. Copeland was signed to the practice squad before the Week 2 game against the Cleveland Browns and was released on October 3.
The full injury report is below.