The Pittsburgh Steelers are rolling into their season opener against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday looking surprisingly healthy, a major win after the preseason grind. Head coach Mike McCarthy didn’t mince words Monday, just flat-out saying, “We’re healthy.” He doesn’t see anyone struggling to be ready for kickoff.
The Injury Bug? What Injury Bug?
That’s huge because PennLive’s Nick Farabaugh dropped a report showing a bunch of guys who missed time this summer were back at practice. We’re talking safety Jaquan Brisker, wideouts Michael Pittman Jr. and DK Metcalf, corner Joey Porter Jr., and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day. Seriously, the list of dudes back on the field is long: Brisker, Joseph-Day, Pittman Jr., Metcalf, Riley Nowakowski, Porter Jr., Ben Skowronek, and Will Howard all participated. That’s a deep breath for Pittsburgh fans, knowing so many key players are good to go.
The One Roadblock? Cold Hard Cash.
But there’s always a catch, right? The only real question mark isn’t about health, but a contract situation with Joey Porter Jr. He’s looking healthy as heck, but he’s playing it coy, not confirming if he’ll actually play against the Falcons without a new deal. This isn’t an injury report issue, it’s a business one. So while official injury reports haven’t dropped yet, Pittsburgh is clearly in a great spot health-wise for Week 1. They just gotta sort out that one big piece of business.
So, come Sunday, all eyes will be on Acrisure Stadium for that Falcons matchup. Will Porter Jr. be on the field? That’s the real drama for Pittsburgh right now. Let’s see if that full bill of health translates to a strong start, or if the contract situation casts a shadow over their opener.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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