The Steelers got some good news on Wednesday, as interior offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski was cleared to return to practice for the first time since suffering a pectoral injury in the team's season-opening win against the Giants,
Wisniewski, a free-agent signing in the offseason from the Chiefs, remains on the Reserve/Injured List, but the team now has 21 days in which he can practice or be activated back on the 53-man roster.
If he's not ready to return after 21 days, he would go on season-ending injured reserve.
Wisniewski started the season opener against the Giants in place of injured right guard David DeCastro, who was out with a knee injury that forced him to miss the first two games of the season. DeCastro is injured again, having suffered an abdominal strain in last Sunday's win over the Eagles at Heinz Field.
It was DeCastro's second game back with the team. Rookie Kevin Dotson started in Week 2 against the Broncos for the Steelers (4-0), who host the Browns (4-1) Sunday at Heinz Field.
Now that he has begun practicing, the Steelers can activate Wisniewski at any point in the next three weeks without making his status available on their injury report. That means they could have the option of starting him this week against the Browns or sticking with Dotson, who replaced DeCastro last week against the Eagles.
Center Maurkice Pouncey also is questionable to play because of a foot injury suffered last week against the Eagles. He, however, is expected to play.
The full injury report:
