Week 16 Injury Report (Ravens)

Updated on December 20th: Safety DeShon Elliott was downgraded to out for Saturday’s game against the Ravens. This is the second straight game Elliott will miss due to his hamstring injury.

Thursday Injury Report: The Steelers have completed their preparation for Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, with health being a hot topic this week.

Receiver George Pickens, linebacker TJ Watt, safety DeShon Elliott, cornerback Donte Jackson, defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi and quarterback Justin Fields are among those dealing with injuries.

Pickens and Fields are ruled out for Saturday, Elliott is out (listed as doubtful on the original injury report on Thursday, 12/19), Ogunjobi and Jackson are questionable, while Watt is not on the injured list.

The Steelers have been without Pickens for the past two weeks as he battled a hamstring injury.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith knows teams will defend differently against them without Pickens, but they just have to be prepared.

“Probably change their calls schematically, and that’s your job,” Smith said. “Nobody cares about it. Nobody on the other side feels sorry for you. You have to have the attitude that no one is coming to save you.”

“I think sometimes in this league you want your best players out there. If that’s not the case, then what should you do about it? I think sometimes people fall victim to whining and whining. The ball will be kicked off at 4:30 p.m., whenever on Saturday, and we have to win. We need to get better at the things we can all do.

“Sometimes a few schemes change, sometimes it’s just executing a better block up front, running a better route or playing a better ball.”

“There’s a lot in it. Obviously I want everyone to be there. That is not reality. You have to find a way to solve the problem.”

Coach Mike Tomlin made it clear earlier this week that all players who are healthy will play Saturday, especially with the AFC North title on the line.

“If they are healthy and available, they go. And that’s generally the attitude that we take,” Tomlin said. “This is a big game. We have an opportunity to consolidate the division this week and rest assured there will be healthy people attending this game.”

“Those who are fit to play will play in this game and we will not look at what may happen on the other side. We have definite, tangible things to pursue this week. Division Championship.” . I think this deserves all hands on deck.

“We are playing for the championship title this week. Anyone who is healthy will play.”

Elliott missed last week’s game against the Eagles, and if he can’t play Saturday there will be some changes on defense like last week.

“It changes us a little bit in terms of the job description and who does what, but it hasn’t changed us much in terms of structure,” defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said. “Well, we’ll see. Hopefully he’ll be back out here this week and we’ll get back to that.”

“But the biggest thing about him is how physical he plays, the temperament he brings and what he does in the running game, they are pretty exceptional. I think the guy had a great year.”

“We know everything about TJ and those guys. But I think this guy has quietly delivered an outstanding performance, yes, really first class.”

While Austin credits him with a quality season, he also understands that the next-man-up mentality needs to be in play.

“That’s kind of what the NFL is about,” Austin said. “You’re going to lose guys from time to time. We trust the guys behind them to come in and play and that they can keep the job and get the job done.”

“That doesn’t mean they’re going to make it in the same way. Nevertheless, you can count on them to make it. This is how we will move forward. We don’t have a pity party because we’re losing someone. Everyone is missing people at this time of year.

“The most important thing is how the boys who have to take on roles behave when they are given their chance.”

The full injury report is below.