No team is 100% healthy at this point in the season, but the Steelers are as healthy as they have been in the wild-card game on Sunday night against the Browns visitors. Linebacker Robert Spillane and point guard Matt Feiler trained on Wednesday. While the two players are still on injury reserve, they can be activated before Sunday’s game.
Spillane started in seven games this season before being placed on reserve due to a knee injury. In 12 games of the regular season, Spillane accumulated 45 tackles, two sacks, four saved passes and a fumble recovery. His choice of six 33-yard yards helped the Steelers defeat the Ravens in week 8. Spillane was added to the starting lineup after Devin Bush suffered a knee injury at the end of the season during Pittsburgh’s week 6 victory over Cleveland.
Feiler was placed on reserve due to injury after suffering a shoulder injury during the Steelers’ defeat in Week 14 to the Bills. A starter since 2018, Feiler has been replaced by Kevin Dotson, a pick from the fourth round of 2020 who was the first player selected in last year’s draft who was not invited to the NFL combination. Dotson played well, despite suffering a knee injury and also testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this year.
“I feel like I belong now,” Dotson recently told Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “In the games I played, I feel like I’m at the level. Before being called up, I had the mentality that I didn’t know what the NFL would be like. As soon as I got my first attempts at an NFL game, it solidified in my mind. Now, I have that confidence. “
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin discussed what the return of Spillane and Feiler means to his team with regard to the 53-player roster.
“The inclusion or potential inclusion of these guys is exciting,” said Tomlin, “but it also creates some challenges from the point of view of decision making, because we feel we have a few options. The guys who played in the place of some of these guys have done a good job for us. It’s a good problem to have as we prepare this week. “
While Spillane and Feiler returned to training, striker Tyson Alualu (ankle) and linebacker Vince Williams (quad) did not train on Wednesday. Cornerback Steven Nelson (knee) and Chris Boswell (groin) were limited participants. Security Terrell Edmunds (shoulder) was a full participant after he was prevented from losing week 17 from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. The Steelers probably won’t have cornerback Joe Haden and tight end Eric Ebron for Sunday night’s game. Both players are still on the COVID-19 list.
For the second day in a row, the Browns held virtual meetings after guard Joel Bitonio, receiver KhaDarel Hodge, coach Kevin Stefanski and two other Cleveland team members tested positive for COVID-19. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will serve as the Browns’ interim head coach. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will play in Stefanski’s absence, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
The Steelers are a six-point favorite, according to William Hill Sportsbook, with the over / under set at 47.5 points. Pittsburgh seeks its first playoff victory since 2016, while the Browns seek their first postseason victory since 1994.