Rico Dowdle made his way back onto the practice field Wednesday, giving the Steelers a fresh development as they get ready for Sunday’s Week 5 meeting with the Indianapolis Colts.
Dowdle was listed as a limited participant for the first time in more than two weeks. He said he dislocated a toe in Week 2 against the Patriots, and that it popped out of place twice during the game. Since then, he sat out Pittsburgh’s games against the Bengals and Browns after not practicing at all.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday that Dowdle was still working with the team’s “rehab group.” McCarthy also said there was no update on safety DeShon Elliott’s status, with the defensive back still on injured reserve.
Pittsburgh’s first injury report for Week 5 also included wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. as limited because of a foot issue. Earlier Wednesday, he was seen with his foot propped up on a scooter.
Two veteran defensive backs, Jamel Dean and Jalen Ramsey, were both held out of practice. Dean is dealing with an ankle injury, while Ramsey’s wrist is the issue. Dean was seen Tuesday without the walking boot he had been using after Pittsburgh’s loss to the Browns, the same game in which Ramsey played through a broken wrist.
The Colts’ injury report was a little longer. Wide receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring), linebackers Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee) and Jaylon Carlies (ribs), center Tanor Bortolini (ankle) and defensive end Arden Key (hamstring) all did not practice. Wide receiver Keenan Allen, who is dealing with rest/groin, and running back Jonathan Taylor, who is resting, were limited.
In Other News...
Steelers Fans May See Joey Porter Jr. Trade Very Differently Now
The Cowboys acquisition of Joey Porter Jr. came with the usual instant questions about what comes next, but the early read on his approach may ease some of that anxiety. Rather than pushing immediately for a new deal, Porter is reportedly willing to play out his current contract, which gives Dallas some breathing room as it sorts through the longer-term picture around one of its newest defensive additions.
For Steelers fans, that detail may change the way the move is viewed from afar. Porters market value is estimated at around $27.4 million per year, so the price tag is still substantial, but the bigger issue now appears to be how much security and how many years the Cowboys want to offer when the time comes. The contract conversation is not going away, but the early signs suggest this may be more about fit and timing than any urgent showdown over money. [Read more 🡒]
Missing Steelers Fan Case In Cleveland Just Took A Disturbing Turn
A trip to Cleveland for a football game has turned into a search that now carries real weight. Phoenix Phillips, a 24-year-old from Maryland, was last seen downtown after attending the game, and police have said his disappearance is concerning. His phone was found, adding to the unease around a case that has quickly moved beyond a simple missing-person report.
Authorities have also recovered an unidentified body near the area where Phillips was last known to be, though they have not confirmed any connection. The investigation remains active, and online chatter has added another layer of noise around Phillips, with unverified allegations tying him to unauthorized trading and scamming. For now, though, the only thing that matters is the unanswered question of what happened after he left the game. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers LB Cole Holcomb Shares A Feel Good Life Update
For a Steelers defense still trying to settle in through a 2-2 start, Cole Holcomb has had a more personal milestone to celebrate away from the field. Holcomb and his wife, Casey, welcomed their second child this week, a baby boy named Drew Jarrett, or DJ, adding a bright spot to a season that has already had its share of on-field grind for the veteran inside linebacker.
Holcomb has continued to be part of Pittsburghs mix in the middle of the defense, even as the early weeks have brought a little bit of everything, including an NFL fine for a blindside block on a special teams play in Week 3. The newborn news, though, is the kind of update that can reset a players week in a hurry, and it gives Holcomb and his family a memorable moment as the Steelers move deeper into the season. [Read more 🡒]