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Steelers Dealing With Five Injuries

The Pittsburgh Steelers' injury report is in flux ahead of a critical matchup with the Bengals.

Stephen Thompson

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers are banged up heading into yet another game in which they will be fighting for their playoff lives against the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. 

As the Steelers get ready for a fight to extend their season, they are facing five major injuries. Some are progressing in a positive direction and others will require further evaluation this week as they prepare for the trip to Cincinnati. 

Most notably, superstar safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is confirmed out for the Bengals game with a knee injury. It was already a brutal break when Mike Tomlin gave the update and became even more consequential moments later when the NFL announced that they had suspended the Steelers' other starting safety, Domatnae Kazee, for the remainder of the season. 

Making safety matters worse for the Steelers, who are already missing Keanu Neal due to an injured hamstring that landed him on injured reserve, is that Trenton Thompson is questionable for this week with a stinger, head coach Mike Tomlin said. He suffered that injury in the Colts game and played all of it, but was limited. 

Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward is also in the concussion protocol and his availability for practice this week and the Bengals game will be determined by medical personnel from the NFL and the Steelers. Heyward was placed in the protocol following the end of the Colts game.

There was some more encouraging news for the Steelers as well. Defensive back Elijah Riley, who suffered an ankle injury in late November and has spent the last five weeks on injured reserve, "has the potential to be available" this week and help cover for their losses at safety.  

The Steelers are also leaving the door open for quarterback Kenny Pickett to come back from an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined for the past two games. Tomlin said he's been rehabbing well and will practice in a limited capacity this week. 

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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