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Steelers cornerback Joe Haden warms up during practice last week in Pittsburgh.
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Joe Haden could return this week, but other key Steelers are in jeopardy of missing Ravens game

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Joe Haden could return this week, but other key Steelers are in jeopardy of missing Ravens game

Cornerback Joe Haden, who missed the past two games with a foot injury, could be close to returning to play, but several other Steelers are in danger of missing the game against the Ravens on Sunday at Heinz Field.

Tight end Pat Freiermuth is in the concussion protocol and linebacker Robert Spillane has a sprained knee that is likely to keep him from playing. On Monday, the Steelers learned outside linebacker T.J. Watt tested positive for COVID-19 and has to test negative twice before Sunday if he is to suit up.

And there is no clarity on the situation with defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt, who has yet to play this season and remains on injured reserve.

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“I haven’t given it a lot of thought,” head coach Mike Tomlin said, when he was asked about Tuitt. “He won’t be available to us this week. We’ll continue to monitor his progress. When he gets close I’ll have an update for you guys.”

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Time is running out for Tuitt to play this season. Teams are given 21 days to evaluate players who are on injured reserve once they return to practice. Given Tomlin’s comments today it does not appear likely Tuitt will practice this week, which decreases the chance he will play in a game this season.

Tuitt, who has one more year remaining on his contract after this season, will count $13.9 million against the salary cap if he is on the 53-man roster next season. He will count $9.6 million against the cap if he is released during the offseason.

In an effort to address the depth issues along the defensive line the Steelers signed Montravius Adams off the Saints practice squad.

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Adams entered the league as the No. 93 overall pick of the Packers in the 2017 draft. He played in 45 games for the Packers over four seasons.

Second-year defensive lineman Carlos Davis, who has not played since the season opener in Buffalo, is a candidate to come off injured reserve this week. He sustained a knee injury during the Bills game.

“Both guys are capable,” Tomlin said. “Adams has a few more hurdles to clear. Carlos has been practicing.”

In addition to Tuitt, the Steelers have been playing without starting nose tackle Tyson Alualu since Week 2 when he suffered a season-ending ankle injury.

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Tomlin said injuries won’t be an excuse and brought up last year’s game against the Ravens in Baltimore, a game the Steelers won when after they lost Alualu early in the game. It also was the second game after Devin Bush was lost for the season with a knee injury.

“Adversity is a component of football,” Tomlin said. “At times you miss people. You have to close ranks and make necessary adjustments. We face that type of adversity a lot over the years.”

“We have to challenge ourselves and dig down deep. It’s guys who are in expanded roles, but that’s life. One man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity if he makes it.”

Turn it off

Receiver Chase Claypool said he would like to play more music and have more fun at practice, but Tomlin and team captain Cam Heyward let it be known on Tuesday that practice this week will be all business.

“Well, Claypool plays wideout and I'll let him do that,” Tomlin said. “I'll formulate the practice approach. And I think that division of labor is probably appropriate.”

Heyward, in his weekly appearance on WDVE, was taken aback when he heard Claypool’s comments on Monday, one day after the Steelers were blown out by 31 points. “As soon as he said it, I was literally ready to rip the speaker out,” Heyward said. ‘That’s not what we need right now. It’s x’s and o’s and execution. I’ll leave it at that.”

Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.

First Published: November 30, 2021, 6:06 p.m.

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