Pittsburgh Steelers Depth Chart
- AFC North
- Stadium
- Acrisure Stadium
- Head Coach
- Mike Tomlin
- Offensive Coordinator
- Eddie Faulkner (Interim)
- Defensive Coordinator
- Teryl Austin
- Special Teams Coach
- Danny Smith
- Defensive Scheme
- 3-4
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson (illness) sat out of practice on Thursday due to an illness. Johnson's absence from practice on Thursday has nothing to do with his lack of hustle on a loose ball in the Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. With another day of practice on Friday, there's a good chance Johnson will return for that and be removed from the final Week 13 injury report. We'd be surprised if he's not out there this Sunday against the visiting Arizona Cardinals. The 27-year-old has a lot of incentive to play hard this weekend after his poor effort last Sunday, especially with the fact that he has only seven receptions for 83 yards and no touchdowns on 20 targets in the last three games. Johnson has a nice bounce-back opportunity this weekend against the Cardinals' suspect defense.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson apologized to his teammates and the media for his lack of effort on a loose ball on running back Jaylen Warren's fumble in the Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. "That's not me as a player," Johnson said. "One play doesn't define me, never will. I didn't come up playing football like that, so obviously it looks bad on film. From here on out, just going forward, just be smart, keep playing 'til the whistle blows." Johnson expects to start this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals despite the lack of effort last week. The 27-year-old had a nice three-week stretch from Weeks 7-9 where he had 20 catches for 254 yards and a touchdown, but in the last three games he's gone for only seven catches on 20 targets for 83 scoreless yards. He'll have a nice matchup to bounce back in this Sunday against Arizona.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (ankle) was unable to practice on Wednesday after suffering an ankle injury in the Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday. "He might be limited some in the early portions of the week," said head coach Mike Tomlin. "We'll let the quality of that, and the amount of that participation be our guide in terms of his availability." The 24-year-old could be truly questionable to play this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. He hasn't been a fantasy option this year anyway, catching only 16 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown in 11 games. Austin's season-high six receptions came in the season opener and he's gone over 50 receiving yards in a game just once all year.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (ankle) is dealing with what head coach Mike Tomlin called "ankle discomfort" that was supposedly going to limit him in the early portions of the week. However, Pickett was able to practice in full on Wednesday It sure sounds like the 25-year-old will be alright for a strong Week 13 matchup against the visiting Arizona Cardinals. He has been one of the most underwhelming QBs in a bad Steelers offense in 2023, but he looked better in the first week without now fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada in the Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, and he has a good matchup to keep building momentum at home. Pickett's ankle injury could limit his mobility somewhat, though.
Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said that quarterback Kenny Pickett (ankle) is experiencing "ankle discomfort" that will limit him in the early portions of practice this week. The injury doesn't seem serious enough to cause him to miss the Week 13 game against the Arizona Cardinals, but it's something that bears watching for sure during the week. In the first game since offensive coordinator Matt Canada's firing in the Week 12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, Pickett showed improvement and went 24-for-33 for 278 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Hopefully, the 25-year-old signal-caller will be able to build on that this Sunday in a solid matchup against the visiting Cardinals. However, his ankle injury could limit his mobility outside the pocket.
