Rico Dowdle finally hit the practice field Wednesday, albeit as a limited participant, marking his first appearance in over two weeks for the Steelers as they get ready to face the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday in Week 5. That’s a sight for sore eyes for Pittsburgh, with their running back working his way back from a tricky toe injury.
Dowdle’s Road Back and Other Key Absences
Look, Dowdle’s been through it. He dislocated a toe way back in Week 2 against the Patriots, and get this, it popped out of place *twice* in that same game. Brutal! He missed the following matchups against both the Bengals and Browns, sitting out practices completely. So, seeing him out there, even limited, is a massive step. Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Dowdle is still with the “rehab group,” which tells you he’s not fully clear yet, but the progress is there.
It’s not just Dowdle on the injury watch, though. The Steelers are dealing with a few other big names. No update on safety DeShon Elliott, who’s still stuck on injured reserve. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was also limited today with a foot issue, and you saw him earlier Wednesday with his foot propped up on a scooter. Not ideal, right? Then you’ve got veteran defensive backs Jamel Dean (ankle) and Jalen Ramsey (wrist) who didn’t even participate in practice. Dean was at least spotted Tuesday without the walking boot he had on after that tough loss to the Browns. And Ramsey? Dude played through a broken wrist in that same game. Talk about tough! Defensive lineman Cam Heyward rounded out Pittsburgh’s report, getting a rest day.
Colts Have Their Own Injury Woes
It’s not like the Colts are coming in completely healthy either. Their injury report Wednesday was actually a bit longer than Pittsburgh’s. They had a bunch of guys not participating: wide receiver Ashton Dulin (hamstring), linebackers Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee) and Jaylon Carlies (ribs), center Tanor Bortolini (ankle), and defensive end Arden Key (hamstring). That’s a lot of depth on the sidelines.
They also had a couple of big names limited: wide receiver Keenan Allen (rest/groin) and running back Jonathan Taylor (rest). Even with a thumb injury designation, center Will Mallory was a full participant for Indianapolis, which is at least some good news for them.
So, as the Steelers gear up for Sunday’s Week 5 clash against the Colts, getting Dowdle back on the field is a morale boost, even if he’s not 100 percent. Every little bit of health counts when you’re going into a division game, and both teams are feeling the injury bug right now. It’s going to be a grind, and we’ll see who comes out on top.
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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