Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says outside linebacker Alex Highsmith will be ready to play on Sunday after missing all three preseason games with a rib injury, but the coach isn’t as optimistic about wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who has a shoulder injury. At his weekly news conference, Tomlin said Johnson’s ability to practice will help determine whether he makes the game against defending AFC champ Cincinnati.
Tomlin says one big key for the Steelers on Sunday will be turnovers.
One of the most questionable aspects of the team is the rebuilt offensive line, which performed poorly in the preseason. Tomlin says the newcomers will suffer growing pains in the early part of the season, but he still expects results.
Tomlin said it was a simple clerical error that listed Mason Rudolph as the number two quarterback when the depth chart was released on Monday and Kenny Pickett was listed yesterday on a revised chart. The Steelers and Bengals kick off Sunday at 1 in Cincy.
After the coach was through yesterday, Steelers owner Art Rooney III held his own news conference, at which he announced that Franco Harris will have his jersey number 32 retired this season at a celebration of The Immaculate Reception before the Raiders game on December 24th. It will be the day after the 50th anniversary of Harris’ famous catch against the Raiders.
Harris was typically humble in accepting the honor.
Harris’s number 32 will be only the third jersey number retired by the Steelers, even though no one has worn number 32 since he did.
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