With a bye week coming up following their game Sunday night against the Detroit Lions, the Steelers chose to err on the side of caution in regard to the availability of defensive end Stephon Tuitt, offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert and tight end Vance McDonald.
Those three all are nursing injuries and will not play against the Lions.
But a new name appeared on the team's injury report Friday when rookie T.J. Watt was added to the list for the Steelers (5-2) after tweaking his ankle midway through the team's final practice.
Watt did not receive a designation (out, doubtful or questionable) and said he plans on playing Sunday.
The game against the Lions (3-3) could be a good time to utilize 39-year-old James Harrison more. Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford has been sacked 23 times in six games and Steelers castoff Brian Mihalik, all 6-foot-9 of him, could be pressed into a starting role for the Lions at left tackle.
Harrison didn't practice for much of training camp and didn't get any reps against Mihalik when he did. But I asked linebacker Bud Dupree if it might be a good matchup for the Steelers' all-time sack leader.
"I don't even think Mihalik can reach low enough to get his hands on James," said Dupree.
At 6-foot, Harrison has always used his size, coupled with his freakish strength, to gain leverage around the corner when working against taller offensive tackles.
Mihalik spent parts of two seasons on the Steelers' practice squad and was in training camp with them this season before being released in August. He was signed to Detroit's 53-man roster and played nearly 30 snaps two weeks ago in the Lions' loss to New Orleans when left tackle Greg Robinson — an injury replacement himself — struggled.
Mihalik flipped over to right tackle later when Robinson was inserted back into the game following an injury to Rick Wagner on the other side of the line. But Robinson then suffered an ankle injury and the Lions have declared he will not play Sunday against the Steelers.
Detroit also will be without backup right tackle Emmett Cleary, leaving Mihalik, Wagner and Bryce Harris as their only healthy players at the position.
Harrison said he doesn't know if he'll get more of a chance to play this week, regardless of the matchup. He's been inactive twice and has played just 29 snaps all season.
"I don't know, that's something you'd have to ask (Mike Tomlin)," said Harrison when I asked if he thought he'd get more playing time. "You'd have to ask them, whatever they decide to do or whatever the plan is. I don't even know if they have a plan.
"I don't know. I go into a game just as blind as y'all do."
When Watt missed a game earlier in the season against Chicago, it was Anthony Chickillo who got the start in his place. Harrison was inactive for the game, a 23-17 overtime loss.
A week after getting 15 snaps in a win at Kansas City and recording a sack at the end of the game that all but sealed the victory, Harrison got just seven snaps last week against Cincinnati. All seven occurred when the Bengals had driven inside the Pittsburgh 10 on two different occasions.
The Lions have allowed 23 sacks of Stafford in six games. Pittsburgh has 24 sacks.
But the Steelers know they can't go into this game thinking it's going to be easy to get to the quarterback, despite evidence to the contrary.
"It's business as usual," Harrison said. "You can't get into a feeding frenzy until you get yourself into position to do that."
ODDS AND END ZONES
With Gilbert out for the fifth time this season because of a hamstring injury, Chris Hubbard will start at right tackle. ... The game will be the fourth Tuitt, who is dealing with a back issue, has missed this season. He is expected to be replaced by Tyson Alualu. ... The absence of McDonald could mean more opportunities for second-year tight end Xavier Grimble. Grimble has one catch for 12 yards in limited action this season. ... In addition to Robinson and Cleary, Detroit also has declared rookie receiver Kenny Golladay (hamstring) out. ... Defensive end Ziggy Ansah (knee), receiver Golden Tate (shoulder) and linebacker Paul Worrilow (knee) all are questionable.