Steelers Injury Report: McDonald, Williams unable to practice Thursday

The Pittsburgh Steelers had an extra day of preparation this week with their game against the Cincinnati Bengals being on Monday night. Unfortunately, the additional day to heal did not equate to players being available the first practice of the week as every player mentioned by Mike Tomlin in Wednesday’s press conference as a possibility to miss time ended up sitting out Thursday. According to the Steelers PR Department, seven players sat out of practice on Thursday with another being limited.

As expected, Roosevelt Nix did not participate in practice on Thursday and is most likely not available for Week 4. Joe Haden did not experience an injury in-game on Sunday, but the Steelers are continuing to bring him along slowly with his injured shoulder. For the last two weeks Haden did not practice until Friday and played all but one snap on defense between both games.

Other players sitting out practice were Vince Williams with a hamstring and Anthony Chickillo with a foot injury. Both players did not play this past Sunday against the 49ers and their status for this week is still unknown.

Vance McDonald left Sunday’s game in the first half with a shoulder injury and was in a sling on Tuesday. Although he has not been ruled out this week, the Steelers did trade for TE Nick Vannett from the Seattle Seahawks on Monday to help their injured tight end group with Xavier Grimble being placed on injured reserve.

Both Maurkice Pouncey and Mark Barron did not practice due to a coach’s decision. Pouncey is regularly given off the first practice of the week during the season while Barron has been absent on Thursdays since Week 1.

Reserve OLB Jayrone Elliott was the only other player on Thursday’s list. He was designated as limited with a hamstring injury.

As for the Bengals injury report, according to team reporter Marisa Contipelli, seven players did not practice on Thursday. Included in the report is A.J. Green who was ruled out earlier in the day by head coach Zac Taylor. Additionally, DB Darius Phillips was included even though it was reported he had been placed on the Reserved/Injured List. Other Bengals of note to miss practice Thursday were Tyler Eifert, Carlos Dunlap, and Carl Lawson.