If all goes how Najee Harris indicates, the Steelers should have their starting running back on the field Sunday in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the team could be without the reigning Defensive Player of the Year once again.
Though limited in Friday's practice, Harris gave reporters on the South Side the nod that he will play this weekend, six days after missing the second half of Monday's game against Indianapolis with an oblique injury.
Harris was asked directly if he will be able to play this weekend. His response?
"Yeah. Yeah, I’m alright. I’m good.”
Additionally, the Steelers could potentially be without T.J. Watt again, as he is officially questionable for Sunday's game after being limited all week in practice with a rib injury.
Watt has played in each game since returning Nov. 13 against the Saints. He practiced on a limited basis on all three days of Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday this week.
Harris rushed 10 times for 35 yards and a touchdown in the first half of Monday's win over Indianapolis. He gave way to a committee of Benny Snell Jr. and Anthony McFarland in the second half, and the duo combined for 92 yards on 18 carries and a go-ahead touchdown from Snell in the fourth quarter. Jaylen Warren was inactive with a hamstring injury, but indications are that the rookie will be ready to play on Sunday in Atlanta.
On Friday's injury report, Warren practiced fully on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, but still carries a questionable designation into Sunday. Per the team's official report, Snell practiced in full on Friday.
Warren, Harris, and Snell all appeared on Thursday's injury report. Warren practiced fully, while Harris did not practice, and Snell was a new add and was limited with a knee issue.
Snell confirmed to me that he practiced on Friday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, and that "I feel great."
In terms of his role on Sunday, it will be contingent on Harris and Warren's statuses. If Harris is limited, Matt Canada could be inclined to lean on Warren as a primary ball carrier, a committee of the four, or a combination thereof.
"It's been the same thing," Snell said. "Be ready. Be ready at any time. Could be at the beginning of the game, could be at the end of the game. I stay solid week in, week out. I'll be ready whenever."
Harris gave details on his injury sustained against the Colts. He said he knew something wasn't right after scoring his six-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
"I think I told them, I said, 'y'all are going to have to finish the game," Harris said. "I think it was a drive coming back, and Ant (McFarland) had a screen, but they were going to put me in, but I was like, 'nah, I can't. Let Ant get this one.' And he did it, and then I think a couple plays later I was like, 'yeah, I can't go no more.' So, I was on the sideline saying, 'this room right here is doing a good job, and we're going to be the backbone of the team and the offense. Coming out of this room, we're going to keep making plays. Not just me, it's going to be all of us."
Harris continued by praising the rest of the "backbone" for their roles and efforts throughout the season.
"I think they did a good job, and I think they did a good job all year, including Jaylen, Ant, Benny," Harris said. "I think all of them did a good job of just working together as a team and finishing out the game. Not only that, but just making plays for us in all aspects. Special teams, going down field and making plays, tackling, pass protection, making big plays in the runs like Jaylen did when he was in against the Saints. And Ant coming in this (Colts) game and finishing out, making big plays and scoring for us, too. I think that's how good our room is."
MORE FROM THE SOUTH SIDE
• Friday's injury report is peculiar in two senses.
One, Harris went DNP, DNP, Limited on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, respectively, but does not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game.
Two, Isaiahh Loudermilk was not accounted for on Thursday's injury report, but he showed up as a DNP on Friday's injury report for both Thursday and Friday due to a personal matter.
Otherwise, Ahkello Witherspoon was ruled out for Sunday with a hamstring issue. Robert Spillane (oblique), Myles Jack (knee), Mason Cole (foot), Cam Heyward (vet rest), and Larry Ogunjobi (toe) all returned to full practice on Friday. Spillane and Cole were limited on Thursday, while Jack, Heyward, and Ogunjobi did not practice on Thursday.
Here is Friday's full injury report:
The #Steelers’ injury report from today.
— Corey Crisan (@cdcrisan) December 2, 2022
- T.J. Watt is QUESTIONABLE with a rib injury.
- Najee Harris limited, Benny Snell back in full, Jaylen Warren officially QUESTIONABLE.
- Ahkello Witherspoon OUT.
- Spillane, Cole, Heyward, Ogunjobi back in full. pic.twitter.com/f0Mgwe2cf8
• We spoke with Watt about non-injury matters ahead of the matchup against the Falcons. When talking about defending against quarterback Marcus Mariota, Watt praised his mobility and his ability to improvise plays outside of the pocket.
"He's very strong," Watt said. "He fights for the extra yard. He's not a guy that's going to slide after getting the first down. Has good ball security. He can look to create and throw the ball late in downs. If he's behind the line of scrimmage he can still dump it off. We've seen good quarterback mobility a number of times, but we haven't been in a stadium with him before, I don't think, so it'll be a challenge."
Watt also gave his input on defending against the hyper-dynamic running back Cordarrelle Patterson:
"Downhill runner, loves contact, big back, and obviously they can flex him out and do some wide receiver stuff, too," Watt said. "So, just a versatile player."
• I had to get to the bottom of the bet payoff between Cam Heyward and Chris Wormley. In case you missed it, Heyward and Wormley, Ohio State and Michigan alums, respectively, had a wager on last weekend's rivalry game. Michigan pounded the Buckeyes, 45-23, giving Wormley the win in the bet.
The payoff? Heyward had to don the Michigan maize and blue in his media session on Thursday:
Cam Heyward lost a bet pic.twitter.com/L1gEXReJnM
— Chris Halicke (@ChrisHalicke) December 1, 2022
The day after the punishment, I gathered Wormley's analysis on Heyward's new wardrobe:
"It was just wear the other team's hoodie for media," Wormley said. "Cam always does media on Thursdays in front of all the cameras and stuff, so I knew that it would be a prime time to show off his new attire."
I asked Wormley if he would've had to speak on camera for Heyward Thursday in an Ohio State hoodie, if the Buckeyes won.
"I don't think so," he said. "I think my exposure would've been a little less than his, which would've been nice. He took it like a champ for the most part. I would like to see his hood down a little bit, but he stuck to his bet."
