The Steelers’ week of preparation for the Colts started with a hit to the secondary, as Jalen Ramsey and Jamel Dean both sat out Wednesday’s practice. For a defense that has already had to patch things together after the Joey Porter Jr. trade, that’s not the kind of opening you want.
Ramsey was listed with a wrist injury and Dean with an ankle issue, and both showed up as nonparticipants on Wednesday’s report. Cameron Heyward also did not practice, though his absence was tied to rest. On the other side of the ball, Michael Pittman Jr. was limited with a foot injury, while Rico Dowdle was limited as he continues working back from a toe issue.
Dowdle’s return to limited work is at least a step forward after he missed the Bengals and Browns games. Pittman’s status will need another look before Sunday, when he faces the team that traded him.
Ramsey’s situation is not necessarily a setback on its own. He played in Cleveland with his wrist protected, so a missed Wednesday session doesn’t automatically knock him out for Indianapolis.
Dean, though, left that game with the ankle injury, and Pittsburgh still has two more practices to see where both corners stand. Right now, the Steelers have to prepare for the possibility that one or both are unavailable.
That possibility puts more pressure on a cornerback room that is already being tested. Asante Samuel Jr. and rookie Daylen Everette have handled work on the outside, and this week Pittsburgh added Sean Murphy-Bunting and Terell Smith to the active roster.
Both could be needed quickly if Dean stays out. If Ramsey also sits, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham loses a piece who can move between the slot and safety.
The matchup itself doesn’t get any easier. Indianapolis is bringing Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor to Acrisure Stadium, and Pittsburgh’s secondary will have to cover and tackle while the front adjusts to Derrick Harmon’s absence.
New corners learning Graham’s system in a hurry only adds to the challenge, which makes Dean’s availability especially important. If Ramsey is ready, the Steelers get back some flexibility.
If Dean is ready too, they at least restore an experienced outside option.
Dowdle’s limited practice gives the offense a small boost, even if Jaylen Warren’s recent production has him firmly in the lead role while Dowdle has been out. A return from Dowdle would add another body to the mix, but not necessarily restore the old rotation.
Thursday’s injury report should tell more about Ramsey, Dean and Dowdle. Friday’s final update will set the game designations before Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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 🡒]