Steelers QB Kenny Pickett cleared to start vs. Ravens; DeMarvin Leal, Pressley Harvin out
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett went through a second consecutive full day of practice, per the injury report, and carries no status designation headed into Sunday’s divisional home game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Pickett suffered a bone bruise in his left knee late during last week’s loss at the Houston Texans, and as recently as Wednesday his status for Sunday was highly in doubt. But after being listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, Pickett declared himself able to play against the Ravens. He followed that with two days of full practice participation.
Judging by how Pickett walked into the locker room following practices the past two days, he has not been wearing a knee brace. He has had compression sleeve on his lower leg, however.
Harris limited but will play
Though the Steelers ruled five players out for Sunday and deemed outside linebacker Alex Highsmith questionable to face the Ravens, Pickett joined three other starters — right tackle Chuks Okorafor (elbow), inside linebacker Cole Holcomb (back) and running back Najee Harris (hamstring) — as players on the injury report who tacitly were given a clean bill of health for Sunday.
Harris was an addition to the injury report Friday. He practiced in a limited capacity despite the newly revealed injury.
Holcomb and Okorafor practiced fully Thursday and Friday.
Harvin, Leal out
Brad Wing will get to punt for the Steelers for at least one more week. The Steelers’ 2014 punter re-emerged to punt last week in Houston because Pressley Harvin III was nursing a hamstring injury that will prevent him from playing again this week.
DeMarvin Leal also ruled out. Leal, who is in NFL concussion protocol, was downgraded to not practicing Friday after he made a limited appearance Thursday.
As has been assumed throughout the week, the Steelers officially announced Friday that three other starters won’t play against the Ravens: right guard James Daniels (groin), left tackle Dan Moore (knee) and tight end Pat Freiermuth (hamstring).
Rookie first-round pick Broderick Jones will make his first NFL start in place of Moore, and Nate Herbig will start in place of Daniels for a second consecutive week. The Steelers on Wednesday added Rodney Williams to their 53-man roster to supplement a tight ends corps that includes Connor Heyward and rookie Darnell Washington.
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