Two Days Out: Steelers Get Healthy at the Right Time for Sunday Night in Cincinnati

Two days out, the news the Pittsburgh Steelers needed is arriving on the practice field. On Sunday, November 15, at 8:20 p.m. ET at Paycor Stadium (NBC and Peacock), the Steelers (6-2) visit the Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) with sole possession of first place in the AFC North on the line. Pittsburgh won the first meeting 30-27 back in September, so a win Sunday completes the season sweep — something the Steelers have not done to Cincinnati since 2023 — and gives Mike McCarthy's team first place outright plus the head-to-head tiebreaker. A loss flips first place to Cincinnati and splits the series. ## The Thursday injury turnaround The Steelers' Thursday practice report, published by steelers.com, was close to a clean sweep in the right direction. Safety DeShon Elliott (ankle) went from limited on Wednesday to a full participant on Thursday — Still Curtain noted he had only recently returned after missing time with a knee injury, so a full Thursday is a strong sign for Sunday night, barring a setback. Joining him as full participants Thursday: WR Ben Skowronek (calf), CB Brandin Echols (hamstring) and DB Doneiko Slaughter (hamstring) — all full for a second straight day — and TE Darnell Washington, whose Wednesday absence was rest, not injury. T.J. Watt was limited Thursday for rest and Cameron Heyward did not practice for rest; neither is an injury concern. The one name still in between is DT Derrick Harmon (foot). Harmon was limited for a second straight day Thursday. He remains on injured reserve with a designation to return — the Steelers opened his 21-day practice window on Wednesday — and has not yet been activated. WDAD reported Friday morning that his limited work is precautionary as he returns from the foot injury and that he appears ready to play, but Harmon himself would not confirm he will be ready Sunday. His activation, if it comes, would be a real boost for the defensive front against Joe Burrow. One return that is not coming this week: WR Michael Pittman Jr. (foot). Reporting from The Athletic's Mike DeFabo and the Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo says Pittman's practice window will not open this week and he is not expected to be activated for Cincinnati, with a return more likely after Sunday night — Fittipaldo pointed toward the Eagles game or around Thanksgiving. ## Cincinnati's side of the report The Bengals are relatively healthy too, with one likely absence. S Kyle Dugger (quad) did not practice Thursday and, per WDAD's Friday report, is not expected to play Sunday night. The rest of Cincinnati's Thursday list moved the right way for them: CB DJ Turner II (ankle) was a full participant, and LG Dylan Fairchild (pectoral) was also full on Thursday after being limited earlier in the week — an important upgrade with Pittsburgh's front coming to town. DT B.J. Hill was limited for rest and DT Jonathan Allen did not practice for rest. Final game designations arrive Friday, so treat every name above as preliminary until the Friday report is official. ## Why the health edge matters in this matchup Burrow was excellent in the first meeting and it still was not enough: 28-of-37 for 282 yards and three touchdowns in the 30-27 loss, with Ja'Marr Chase the matchup problem Pittsburgh's secondary has to solve. That is exactly why Elliott, Echols and Slaughter all trending to full matters — the Steelers need their full secondary rotation for Chase and this Bengals passing game, and they need Harmon, if activated, to help pressure Burrow the way Pittsburgh did in September. Pittsburgh brings a four-game winning streak and a rest edge off the bye — the franchise owns the NFL's best post-bye record since 2007 at 17-5, though this is McCarthy's first bye week in charge of the Steelers, in his first season as head coach. Cincinnati counterpunches with momentum of its own, having beaten Atlanta 34-17 in Madrid last weekend for its own fourth straight win. ## Projection (clearly a projection, not a result) Projection: if Friday's final report confirms Elliott and the secondary at full strength and Harmon is activated, Pittsburgh's rest and health edges point to another narrow, one-score Steelers win and the season sweep, just like the 30-27 first meeting. If Harmon sits and Burrow gets time to find Chase early, Cincinnati protects home field and takes over the division. Either way, Friday's designations are the last real clue before Sunday night — and SportsNat will have full coverage after the final whistle. Sources checked live on 2026-11-13: steelers.com Week 10 Injury Report (Bengals); WDAD, November 13; Still Curtain, November 12; DraftKings Network / The Athletic; Yardbarker / Post-Gazette; NBC Sports.