Steelers’ Donte Jackson cleared, Mason McCormick questionable for playoff game

As he adjusts to playing with a broken left hand, starting right guard Mason McCormick officially is listed as questionable to make his NFL playoff debut Saturday.

McCormick on Thursday was a partial practice participant for the third consecutive day, according to the league-mandated injury report, leaving it up in the air whether he will be in the lineup when the Steelers face the Baltimore Ravens in a wild-card round game at 8 p.m. Saturday.

McCormick, a rookie fourth-round pick, started the final 14 games of the season, the final 13 at right guard, replacing veteran James Daniels after Daniels suffered an Achilles injury during a Sept. 29 game in Indianapolis.

McCormick suffered his broken hand during the fourth quarter of this past Saturday’s regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. Second-year pro Spencer Anderson replaced McCormick and would start in his place in Baltimore if McCormick cannot play.

McCormick, earlier this week, said he would not wear a cast and was eager to see if he felt comfortable enough to perform his duties while wearing a brace on his injured hand.

After having five different combinations of starters on the offensive line over their first seven games of the season, the Steelers had stability with the same starting unit for each of their nine games after their midseason bye.

The offensive line has lost three projected starters to season-ending injuries: rookie tackle Troy Fautanu, Daniels and center Nate Herbig.

Jackson cleared

After a third consecutive practice in which he was deemed a full participant, starting outside cornerback Donte Jackson was given the green light to play against the Ravens. Jackson had missed two of the past three games because of a back injury.

Jackson was spotted wearing a back brace in the locker room before a practice this week. A seven-year NFL veteran, Jackson will be making his playoff debut.

Heyward practices

For the first time this week, veteran defensive tackle Cameron Heyward practiced. Heyward was a full participant for Thursday’s session at Acrisure Stadium less than a week after he fell ill.

Heyward played in this past Saturday’s loss to the Bengals, and he was impactful, with three batted-down passes. But Heyward was visibly ill after the game and was told to stay home when the Steelers began preparations this week. He was on site Wednesday but finally practiced Thursday.

“I’ve been sick before like that, but it’d been a while,” Heyward said Thursday. “Kind of hit me all (last) Friday and snowballed from there. But finally starting to get out of it.”

Kicker Chris Boswell also is on the injury report because of illness and was regarded as a non-participant at practice the past two days. He, however, was not given a designation on the status report for Saturday, indicating there is no question that he will play.

Pruitt returns

Reserve tight end MyCole Pruitt returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesday’s workout following a knee injury he suffered or aggravated Tuesday. Pruitt also was given a designation he will play Saturday.

Thee players who remain off the active roster but returned to practice last week — inside linebacker Cole Holcomb, receiver Roman Wilson and defensive lineman Logan Lee — were ruled “out” to play in Baltimore.

However, veteran offensive lineman Calvin Anderson was tagged as questionable after he put in a full week of practice. Anderson had spent 3 1/2 weeks on the injured reserve list because of a groin ailment but returned to practice Tuesday.

Miller released

In an indication Anderson might be re-added to the active roster in time for Saturday’s game, a spot was cleared via the release of veteran receiver Scotty Miller.

A six-year NFL veteran, Miller joined the Steelers on a one-year contract this past spring and made the team during training camp. He appeared in 13 games but was a healthy scratch for the regular-season finale.

Miller, who played 25% of the offensive snaps in games he played this season, had five catches for 69 yards.