Mike Tomlin expecting healthy roster when Steelers face Titans to kick off stretch run

Mike Tomlin’s ability to turn over stones, the term he used to describe getting the Pittsburgh Steelers back on track after a loss at Minnesota, will depend on the health of his injured players.

At his weekly news conference Tuesday, Tomlin mentioned eight players who could be available Sunday when the Steelers (6-6-1) face the Tennessee Titans (9-4) at Heinz Field.

Most prominent are cornerback Joe Haden, who could return from a foot injury that kept him sidelined for the past four games, and outside linebackers T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith, who each left the 36-28 loss against the Vikings because of injuries. Watt injured his groin in the second quarter, and Highsmith departed in the third with a knee injury.

Tomlin said the Steelers will evaluate Carlos Davis and Isaiah Buggs (ankle) as options on the defensive line. Joe Haeg was activated from the reserve/covid list Monday and could be used at left guard. Another option is J.C. Hassenauer, an interior offensive lineman who could be activated from injured reserve. Robert Spillane (knee) could return to help out at inside linebacker after missing the past two games.

“It’s a good problem to have, one that we hadn’t really had a lot of,” Tomlin said. “I don’t see it as a negative to have viable guys who are capable and willing to help us pursue victory in this game.”

Tomlin will have a better idea of who will be available this weekend after practice Wednesday. He plans to put his players through a padded practice.

“That will give some of the guys a chance to display readiness and see where they are and better aid us in the decision making we need to make as the week unfolds in terms of who we go to and who we don’t go to,” he said.

The Steelers are 1-3-1 in their past five games, four of which they have played at left corner without Haden. Second-year cornerback James Pierre, a former undrafted free agent, made two starts before he was benched in favor of Ahkello Witherspoon, who had two interceptions at Minnesota. Witherspoon’s improved play could keep him on the field once Haden returns. Moving Cameron Sutton inside to the nickel corner spot is a possibility.

With Watt and Highsmith missing at outside linebacker, the Steelers had to turn to Derrek Tuska and Taco Charlton, a pair that didn’t join the roster until after the preseason. Davis spent much of the year on injured reserve, and Buggs lost his job before suffering a foot injury. Montravius Adams has started the past two games at nose tackle.

Facing a defense missing so many key pieces, the Vikings gashed the Steelers for 242 rushing yards.

On offense, the Steelers had their fourth player in a five-week span start at left guard when attrition forced John Leglue into that spot against Minnesota. The return of Haeg and even Hassenauer could fortify the interior of the line.

Zach Banner, projected to be the starting right tackle entering the season, is an option if Tomlin is looking to bench rookie Dan Moore or second-year starter Chuks Okorafor. Tomlin reiterated Tuesday how badly the offensive and defensive lines were manhandled by the Vikings.

Tomlin admitted he has resisted using Banner earlier because of “cohesion and opportunity. We’ve sustained a lot in the interior portion of our line and less so at tackle. He’s a tackle and tackle only.”

The line, as constituted against the Vikings, couldn’t prevent quarterback Ben Roethlisberger from being sacked five times, his highest total since 2014. The offense also didn’t get points until late in the third quarter when the deficit was 29-0.

“We can stay on schedule better,” Tomlin said. “I think that is the catalyst for it. It’s always been a catalyst for us in minimizing his exposure. When we’re doing a better job of staying on schedule, those hits are less, and we acknowledge last Thursday is not what we are looking for in that regard.”

The Steelers likely need to win three of their final four to make the playoffs. The other three AFC North teams lost Sunday, keeping the Steelers in the hunt for the division title.

“Sitting out the weekend provided perspective of how wide open this field is and our potential place in it,” Tomlin said.