Steelers defensive linemen Cameron Heyward and Javon Hargrave to practice Wednesday

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers might not have many fingernails left on their fingers after the suspensions and injuries dealt to the team to start the 2016 season. However, unlike the suspensions, injuries can change, and the team is hoping to have two starting defensive linemen, who mean an awful lot to the overall defense, back in the lineup in Washington Monday night.

Cameron Heyward, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's Week 3 preseason game, and Javon Hargrave, who injured his quadriceps muscle on Monday, are expected to practice Wednesday to test their injuries.

Hargrave said injury was quad. Said he expects to play #Steelers

— Dale Lolley (@dlolleyor) September 7, 2016

Javon Hargrave: "I'm good... Nothing serious." Plans on practicing today. Was a quad and not a knee, as many reported.

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 7, 2016

Can Heyward (ankle) and Javon Hargrave (quad) sound like they will both practice later today and seem optimistic for MNF.

— Missi Matthews (@missi_matthews) September 7, 2016

This is good news, but the true test of their work Wednesday will be how their body responds to the rigors of practice. Not just during the session or immediately afterwards, but the next day when the body has fully recovered from the workout.

Don't expect much news on this subject from the Steelers after practice. With a Monday night game this week, the team doesn't need to release their first official injury report until Thursday. It will be at that time you will see if Heyward, Hargrave and a slew of other injured Steelers, were full or partial participants in practice, or if they didn't practice at all.

Either way you look at it, Heyward and Hargrave look to be doing everything they can to be on the field Monday night in Washington.