(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
The Steelers have an extra week of practice this year with being in the Hall of Fame Game, so maybe Mike Tomlin is just trying to save some reps for his key defensive players, but T.J. Watt and Stephon Tuitt haven't participated in 11-on-11 sessions yet. For the most part, Watt and Tuitt have been conditioning off to the side.
Tomlin was mum on if Watt is dealing with an injury, saying that he is not required to disclose injuries at this point. Tomlin's not required to reveal injuries until the Wednesday of their first regular-season game against the Bills.
“It’s just day-to-day,” Tomlin said of Watt. “Probably the same level of anticipation (to return to practice) as Tuitt and others. I’m focused on the guys who are working and their opportunities and the process that this group is collectively going through.”
However, Tomlin did mention that running back Jaylen Samuels suffered a lower-body injury and tight end Dax Raymond was shaken up late in the practice when they were doing the two-minute drill. Joe Haden had a veterans day off and Eric Ebron sat out due to an elbow injury.
In addition to Watt and Tuitt, Chuks Okorafor, Zach Banner and Kevin Dotson haven't taken one rep during team periods. It's unknown what's going on with Okorafor and Dotson, but Banner is coming off a season-ending ACL tear, so the Steelers are probably just slowly brining him back.