The Pittsburgh Steelers released their first injury report of the week on Tuesday with just days to go before their wild-card matchup against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday night.
Two players we’re keeping an eye on in particular this week are cornerback Donte Jackson and guard Mason McCormick. Jackson sat out Week 18 with a back injury and was sorely missed, and McCormick actually broke his hand in the loss.
Jackson spoke with reporters on Tuesday and revealed that his back injury is “nagging.” However, the veteran cornerback was able to turn in a full practice, something he wasn’t able to do in the last two sessions last week.
“It sucks, man,” Jackson said per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “It is frustrating because you work so hard… Just to have your body right to withstand a full season, and it just sucks that you deal with stuff, man.”
“Just trying to keep it warm and just keeping up on the treatments. It is really just nagging because I’m such a twitchy [player]. So certain moves just aggravated a little bit,” Jackson added.
When it comes to McCormick, he was actually able to turn in a limited practice even with the broken hand. The rookie said he will not wear a cast but will sport a brace instead. He is hopeful he can play.
“Not like a full-blown cast. I’m not going to club it,” McCormick said, according to Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com. “If I can grip and play, then I’m going to. There will be some sort of brace. Like I said, I’m not going to go if it inhibits me in any way.”
Steelers injury report
Cam Heyward DNP with his ongoing illness
Mason McCormick (hand) was limited, but he said he did everything he planned to do in today’s practice. pic.twitter.com/iDdHVBAuEH
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) January 7, 2025
Cam Heyward sat out practice with an illness. After the Week 18 loss, Heyward revealed he was battling the flu. There is zero chance he sits out.
The three players who were designated to return last week — wide receiver Roman Wilson, linebacker Cole Holcomb and defensive lineman Logan Lee — were all full participants, which gives them a shot to play Saturday.
The Steelers designated offensive lineman Calvin Anderson to return from injured reserve. Anderson, who is working his way back from a groin injury, turned in a full practice. It remains to be seen if he’ll be ready by the weekend.
Ravens injury report
Tuesday’s injury report pic.twitter.com/o1P7ZoERQ0
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 7, 2025
The biggest name to keep an eye on here is wide receiver Zay Flowers, who did not practice on Tuesday after suffering a knee injury in Week 18. Flowers’ status remains up in the air for Saturday.
“It’s not a season-ending injury,” Harbaugh said of Flowers’ injury. “So it’s just going to be day-to-day, try to do everything he can do to get back as soon as he can, and we’ll see where that takes us.”
