The Pittsburgh Steelers will be returning to the friendly confines of Acrisure Stadium this Saturday for their final home game of the season. With the games going from Saturday to Saturday this week, everything gets shifted forward one day as the first practice comes on Tuesday.

In the final injury report this week courtesy of Steelers.com, three players have been ruled out with another as questionable.

Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 16

Game Status

No. 8 QB Kenny Pickett (Ankle) – Out
No. 17 S Trenton Thompson (Neck) – Out
No. 37 S Elijah Riley** (Ankle) – Questionable
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Knee) – Out

Thursday, December 21

No. 8 QB Kenny Pickett (Ankle) – Limited
No. 17 S Trenton Thompson (Neck) – DNP
No. 22 RB Najee Harris (Knee) – Full
No. 37 S Elijah Riley** (Ankle) – Full
No. 39 S Minkah Fitzpatrick (Knee) – DNP
No. 73 G Isaac Seumalo (Shoulder) – DNP
No. 77 OT Broderick Jones (Ankle) – Full
No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth (Knee) – Full
No. 97 DT Cam Heyward (Concussion) – Full

**  On IR, within 21-day window

One player who did not practice all week because he’s already been ruled out for this week is safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. While it’s unclear at this time is Fitzpatrick’s injury will have him return at all for the 2023 season, his Week 16 status is he is now officially out.

After missing the last two weeks, quarterback Kenny Pickett returned to practice to test out his ankle on Tuesday. Participating in a limited fashion, Pickett took reps behind the other quarterbacks as Mason Rudolph is preparing for his first start of the 2023 season and operating under the assumption that Pickett will need more time. On Wednesday and Thursday, Pickett was once again limited. Not back to the level he needs to be to take back over, Pickett has officially been ruled out and Mason Rudolph will get the start at quarterback.

After not practicing all week last week yet still playing in the game, Isaac Seumalo once again found himself not participating in practice on Tuesday with his shoulder injury. Additionally, Najee Harris with a knee injury and Trenton Thompson with a neck were the other players who were unable to practice on Tuesday. On Wednesday, these three players all had a different degree of participation as Najee Harris was a full participant and Isaac Seumalo returned in a limited fashion for his first practice a couple weeks. Trenton Thompson missed another practice on Wednesday with his neck injury. Thursday saw Harris as a full participant again and having no injury status. Isaac Seumalo went back to not participating in practice but carries no injury designation for the game so he will play. As for Trenton Thompson, he once again missed practice and has been ruled out for Saturday’s game.

Landing in the NFL’s concussion protocol following last Saturday’s game, Cam Heyward was a limited participation on Tuesday. Needing to progress through things, Heyward was a full participant on Wednesday and has the potential to come out of the protocol. On Thursday morning it was announced Heyward had been cleared of the protocol and he carries no injury status for Saturday.

Returning to practice after spending the last four games on IR, safety Elijah Riley was listed as limited on Tuesday with his ankle injury. On Wednesday, Riley progressed to a full participant. Thursday saw Riley practice fully again but he carries a questionable status because he is still technically on IR. For Riley to return this week, he would have to be placed on the Steelers 53-man roster by Friday at 4 PM.

The two other players limited on Tuesday were Pat Freiermuth with a knee and Broderick Jones with an ankle. On Wednesday, both players returned as full participants. Thursday brought more full participation by both players and neither have an injury status for Saturday.

As for the Bengals injury report, it can be seen here courtesy of Steelers.com. Wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has been ruled out.

Cincinnati Bengals Participation/Injury Report, Week 16

Game Status

No. 1 WR Ja’Marr Chase (Shoulder) – Out

Thursday, December 21

No. 1 WR Ja’Marr Chase (Shoulder) – DNP
No. 30 HB Chase Brown (Chest) – Full
No. 65 G Alex Cappa (Knee/Ankle) – Full
No. 96 DE Cameron Sample (Knee/Ankle) – Full
No. 49 LB Joe Bachie (Oblique) – Full
No. 6 QB Jake Browning (Right Forearm) – Full
No. 79 OT Jackson Carman (Illness) – Full