The Pittsburgh Steelers exited Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season not only with a crushing loss, but with a myriad of injuries. With Cam Heyward and Diontae Johnson already ruled out for this week Heyward already placed on the Reserve/Injured List (IR), the Steelers have other players who are banged up who they are hoping to be available for Monday night against the Cleveland Browns. While those who were in question following Sunday’s game all look to be good to go for Week 2, it was a different player who showed up o Thursday’s injury report that will miss Monday night’s game.

With the Steelers having an extra day before their next game, their final injury report comes today, Saturday, along with game statuses. In the final injury report this week courtesy of Steelers.com, one new name appears on the list in regards to practice but does not bring an injury status for the game. Instead, both Diontae Johnson and Anthony McFarland have been ruled out.

Pittsburgh Steelers Participation/Injury Report, Week 2

Game Status
No. 18 WR Diontae Johnson (Hamstring) – Out
No. 26 RB Anthony McFarland Jr. (Knee) – Out

Saturday, September 16
No. 14 WR George Pickens (Hamstring) – Limited
No. 18 WR Diontae Johnson (Hamstring) – DNP
No. 26 RB Anthony McFarland Jr. (Knee) – DNP
No. 73 OL Isaac Seumalo (NIR) – Full
No. 76 OL Chukwuma Okorafor (Concussion) – Full
No. 78 OL James Daniels (Ankle) – Full
No. 88 TE Pat Freiermuth (Chest) – Full
No. 99 DT Larry Ogunjobi (Foot) – Full

With Cam Heyward having surgery and expected to miss up to eight weeks, we was just placed on IR Thursday. For this reason, Heyward will NOT show up on the Steelers injury report as not participating or being ruled out.

With Diontae Johnson’s hamstring injury, it is not beyond the possibility of him landing on IR but the move may not be necessary. If the Steelers were to put him on IR, look for that move to happen before 4 PM Monday. Either way, Johnson has been ruled out for Monday and obviously did not participate in practice at all this week.

A player who was not expected to land on this list as he was not listed as an injury following the game or in Mike Tomlin’s press conference on Tuesday is running back Anthony McFarland. Listed with a knee injury, McFarland did not participate at all in practice all week and has been ruled out. How the Steelers will handle the third running back option for Monday remains to be seen, but the bigger absence from McFarland will be as the team’s kick returner.

Dealing with a chest injury from last Sunday’s game, Pat Freiermuth started off the week in a limited fashion. But on both Friday and Saturday, Freiermuth was a full participant and has no injury status for Monday.

Two players who were seen on Monday each in a walking boot were Steelers defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi and guard James Daniels. On Thursday, both players were able to participate in a limited fashion. Friday saw more of the same from James Daniels, but Larry Ogunjobi moved in the wrong direction and did not practice. The good news is both players were listed as full participants in Saturday’s practice and neither have an injury status for Week 2.

It was announced after Sunday’s game that starting right tackle Chuks Okorafor was in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Having to progress through the various stages, Okorafor did have an opportunity to move through things on Wednesday as the Steelers did practice but did not have to give an injury report. On Thursday and Friday, Okorafor was listed as a limited participant which was a good sign he is moving through the protocol. Saturday’s practice saw Okorafor as a full participant. Most importantly, Okorafor has no injury status for Monday’s game which means he must have been able to clear the protocol on Saturday.

New to Friday’s injury report is guard Isaac Seumalo who did not practice, but it was not due to injury. Unsurprisingly, Seumalo was back as a full participant on Saturday.

The new name on the list Saturday was wide receiver Geoerge Pickens who was limited with a hamstring. With the limited designation being sometimes difficult to determine what happened as the player could have only participated in one drill or simple missed one rep, it appears it was not a concern as Pickens has no injury status for the game.

As for the browns injury report, it can be seen here courtesy of Steelers.com.

Cleveland Browns Participation/Injury Report, Week 2

Game Status
No. 2 WR A. Cooper (Non-Injury Related, Groin) – Questionable
No. 62 DT S. Ika (Foot) – Questionable
No. 1 S J. Thornhill (Calf) – Questionable

Saturday, September 16
No. 75 G J. Bitonio (Non-Injury Related) – Full
No. 2 WR A. Cooper (Non-Injury Related, Groin) – Limited
No. 95 DE M. Garrett (Non-Injury Related) – Full
No. 93 DT S. Harris (Achilles) – Full
No. 90 DT M. Hurst (Hamstring) – Full
No. 62 DT S. Ika (Foot) – DNP
No. 79 T D. Jones (Wrist) – Full
No. 1 S J. Thornhill (Calf) – Limited
No. 5 LB A. Walker (Non-Injury Related) – Full
No. 71 T J. Wills (Foot) – Full