Several Steelers starters missed practice throughout this week, but it appears all of them will be available for the AFC divisional round playoff game Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown was sent home Friday morning after reporting to work with flu-like symptoms. Coach Mike Tomlin said he expects Brown to be at the team walk-through Saturday morning and to play Sunday.
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“Antonio has looked really good,” Tomlin said. “I sent him home with an illness. I didn’t want him to get any of the guys who weren’t sick, sick. We’ll bring him back in the building [Saturday] and continue on with his game readiness. I don’t really have a lot of reservations about him from a physical health standpoint. We do need to get him well from an illness standpoint.”
Cornerback Artie Burns, defensive end Stephon Tuitt and nose tackle Javon Hargrave were back at practice Friday after missing Thursday.
Burns hyper-extended his right knee Wednesday in practice.
“I’ll be good to go,” Burns said Friday after practice.
Other than the season-ending injury to Ryan Shazier, the Steelers are in good shape from a health standpoint entering their first playoff game. That’s the first time the Steelers can say that in a while.
“I’m not looking for comfort,” Tomlin said. “I don’t seek it. We play the cards we’re dealt. We realize health is a blessing in this game. When we lack it, we’re not going to allow it to be an excuse. Those performances are those performances. We’re excited about this one.”
First Published: January 12, 2018, 6:05 p.m.
Updated: January 12, 2018, 10:07 p.m.
