Steelers Injury Report: Chase Claypool IN, James Washington OUT for Sunday’s game

The Pittsburgh Steelers finished their preparation for Week 5 of the 2021 NFL season. As the Steelers take the practice field for their final day of preparation for the Denver Broncos, many players progressed to where they were full participants on Friday. In the final injury report of the week courtesy of the Steelers PR department, four players have been ruled out for Sunday’s game.

Steelers PR Department

After missing Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, Chase Claypool returned in a limited role on Wednesday and Thursday. To finish out the week, Claypool practiced fully on Friday and carries no injury designation for Sunday’s game.

The new player to the injury report on Thursday was wide receiver James Washington who was limited with yet another groin injury for the Steelers. On Friday, Washington was unable to participate and has been ruled out for Week 5.

Another starter who missed this past Sunday’s game was Chuks Okorafor who was still in the concussion protocol. On Friday, Okorafor was a full participant for the third-straight day and must be clear of the protocol as he carries no injury designation for this week.

Two other players who were out on Sunday due to injury were defensive tackle Carlos Davis and guard Rashaad Coward. After missing three-straight games, Davis still did not practice Wednesday or Thursday with his knee injury. As for Coward, he returned Wednesday in a limited fashion with his ankle injury, but took a step back as he did not practice on Thursday. On Friday, both players were listed as limited in practice, but both have been ruled out for Sunday.

Two players who left Sunday’s game due to injury were Cam Sutton with a groin and Kevin Dotson with a hip flexor. Unfortunately, both players did not practice on Wednesday. Kevin Dotson was able to return as a full participant on Thursday, but Cam Sutton missed his second-straight day. With Friday ultimately being the test, Dotson was a full participant again and has no injury designation for Sunday. Unfortunately, Cam Sutton was still unable to practice Friday and has been ruled out. The most likely replacement for Sutton will be James Pierre on the outside with several options to attempt to fill the void in the Steelers dime package.

Even though he was able to play this past week, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster was limited on Wednesday with a rib injury. On Thursday and Friday, Smith-Schuster was back to a full participant and carries no injury status. Other players who were on the report and fully practiced Friday and have no injury status are Ben Roethlisberger (hip/pectoral), Cam Heyward (neck), and Trai Turner (illness).

As for the Broncos’ injury report, you can see the names below courtesy of Steelers.com. Several of their questionable players are expected to play such as Melvin Gordon III and Teddy Bridgewater. Despite being a full participant in practice Friday, Bridgewater had not been cleared of the concussion protocol at the time the report was released.

Denver Broncos Participation/Injury Report, Week 5

GAME STATUS

QB Teddy Bridgewater (Concussion) - Questionable

RB Melvin Gordon III (Lower Leg) - Questionable

WR Diontae Spencer (Chest) - Questionable

CB Pat Surtain II (Chest) - Questionable

WR Courtland Sutton (Ankle) - Questionable

TE Albert Okwuegbunam (Hamstring) - Out

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8

QB Teddy Bridgewater (Concussion) - Full

RB Melvin Gordon III (Lower Leg) - Limited

T Bobby Massie (NIR – Rest) - DNP

WR Diontae Spencer (Chest) - Limited

CB Pat Surtain II (Chest) - Limited

ILB Baron Browning (Back) - Full

G Graham Glasgow (Knee) - Full

OLB Von Miller (NIR – Rest) - Full

OLB Andre Mintze (Hamstring) - Limited

TE Albert Okwuegbunam (Hamstring) - DNP

G Dalton Risner (Ankle) - Full

DE Shelby Harris (Wrist) - Full

S Justin Simmons (Hand) - Full

WR Courtland Sutton (Ankle) - Limited

For more information on the Steelers and Broncos’ injury report, check out the BTSC Injury Report podcast below: