Steelers are hopeful to get plenty of injured starters back vs. the Dolphins in Week 8

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 7 bye came at just the right time. The team was beat up and bruised from their first six games of the 2019 regular season, but as fans found out on Tuesday from head coach Mike Tomlin, even a week off might not have been enough for all of the Steelers’ walking wounded.

Tomlin listed several players in different capacities during his press conference. The players he labeled as “working back” to the field, were Mark Barron (hamstring) who will most likely be practicing in a partial capacity leading up to Week 8, and T.J. Watt (oblique) whose abdominal injury may impact his participation in the early portions of the week.

Other injuries Tomlin discussed were none other than Jaylen Samuels (knee) who might be able to start working in a partial capacity after having his knee scoped after the Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Joe Haden (groin) and Mike Hilton (calf) have been slowed, but are hopeful to return to the practice field. Hilton’s calf injury popped up towards the end of the Chargers game in Week 6 and could hinder him throughout the week. As always, practice availability will dictate their availability on game day.

As for the good news, Tomlin said the following players should be back to the lineup for the Monday night affair with the Dolphins:

Steven Nelson (groin)

Vance McDonald (shoulder)

James Washington (shoulder)

Mason Rudolph (concussion)

Even with a week off it seems as if several players, and many starters, overall availability for next Monday’s game is anything but certain. But as stated before, and many times by Tomlin himself, use their practice availability as the ultimate gauge as for whether any particular players will, or won’t, be playing on game day.

Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they prepare for the Dolphins in Week 8 at Heinz Field.