The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the Kansas City Chiefs on a short week, and while the Chiefs will be visiting Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday the Steelers are hopeful to get some help by way of some injured players returning to the lineup.

Sunday, a day after the Steelers loss to 34-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Mike Tomlin addressed the media and updated the injury situation heading into the Christmas Day game.

All of the players who missed at least last week, some have missed the last two weeks, have a legitimate shot at returning this week. Those players are:

• WR George Pickens (hamstring)
• S DeShon Elliott (hamstring)
• Donte Jackson (back)
• Larry Ogunjobi (groin)

The majority of these players were close to returning this past week, but the Steelers played it on the safe side and didn’t want to rush them back vs. Baltimore on Saturday. It doesn’t guarantee their return, but Tomlin was optimistic in these key players being available for Week 17.

As for in-game injuries, Mike Tomlin had less of an update on the following players, and didn’t sound optimistic about their availability on such a short week. Those injuries are:

• Joey Porter Jr. (knee)
• Ben Skowronek (hip)

Both players tried to return to the game at M&T Bank Stadium, but were unable to finish the game. While the Steelers initially ruled Porter’s injury as a calf, it was eventually diagnosed as a knee, with discomfort circulating to the surrounding area. Hence the discrepancy in the reporting of the initial injury and the current injury report.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the Chiefs in Week 17 on Christmas Day at Acrisure Stadium.