Fittipaldo Predicts Derrick Harmon’s Status Against Bengals

Pittsburgh wrapped up its Week 10 preparation for a Sunday night game against Cincinnati with first place in the AFC North on the line, and the team's injury report shows a relatively healthy roster after the bye week, according to Steelers.com. Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon was a full participant in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable with a foot injury that has kept him out the last four games while on injured reserve. Harmon said he focused on both the mental and physical aspects of his recovery during the four-week IR stint. "Being on IR and you've got to sit down those four weeks," Harmon said. "Four weeks is focused on mental and physical. That was my biggest concern, mental, and of course more physical." He added that this week he wanted to ensure his footing felt good and he could still strike blocks while fine-tuning his playbook command.

Receiver Ben Skowronek also practiced fully all week after missing four games with a calf injury and is trending toward a return. Skowronek first returned to practice ahead of the Week 8 game against Cleveland but was held out. "It's definitely been tough," Skowronek said. "I had to be held back the week of the Browns game I really wanted to go, but it was one of those things where it was better for myself and the interest of the team to hold myself out one more week and be ready to go after the bye." He called the bye week "very valuable" for the extra recovery time. Tight end Pat Freiermuth was added to the injury report Friday due to an illness and is also listed as questionable. Several veterans, including T.J. Watt, Cameron Heyward, and Darnell Washington, were full participants after rest days earlier in the week. The Steelers also have receivers Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson on injured reserve; Pittman is eligible to return to practice, while Wilson becomes eligible after the Bengals game. Undrafted rookie Max Hurleman, on the practice squad injured list, has drawn praise from Coach Mike McCarthy and DK Metcalf but has yet to play an NFL game.