Steelers Injury Report: Two starters return to the practice field before Ravens game

The Pittsburgh Steelers and their fans have one main injury on their minds, and that would be the back injury to Ryan Shazier. Shazier, who was just flown back to Pittsburgh from Cincinnati, will obviously be out of the lineup this week and for the foreseeable future, but regarding his prognosis and/or status, no one outside of the organization is in the know.

While it seems odd to talk about football within such a context as the previous paragraph, the team nevertheless is preparing for the Baltimore Ravens and they got two important pieces of their puzzle back onto the practice field on Wednesday.

Mike Mitchell and Vance McDonald, who were starting before getting injured, both are coming off of ankle injuries, and both would be welcome sights for the Black-and-gold as they prepare for the Ravens on Sunday night.

As for the players who didn’t practice Wednesday, none of them was unexpected. Joe Haden continues to rehab his broken fibula, Tyler Matakevich’s shoulder injury could have him sitting out Sunday and we all know Shazier’s current state.

It’s still early but, from a health standpoint, the Steelers are okay at this point in the season. Replacing someone like Shazier is impossible, but the return of Mitchell will help mask this absence. But if Mitchell has a setback and Robert Golden has to play again, it could spell disaster for the Pittsburgh defense.

Check out the complete injury report for both teams after Wednesday’s practice:

Injury Report

Pittsburgh

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
CB Joe Haden (Fibula)
LB Tyler Matakevich (Shoulder)
LB Ryan Shazier (Back)

FULL PARTICIPATION
S Mike Mitchell (Ankle)
TE Vance McDonald (Ankle)

Baltimore

DID NOT PARTICIPATE
LB C.J. Mosley (Neck)
LB Za'Darius Smith (Shoulder)

LIMITED PARTICIPATION
G Jermaine Eluemunor (Shoulder)
WR Jeremy Maclin (Back)