Eagles-Steelers Week 8 injury report, with analysis

Steelers LB T.J. Watt
Philip G. Pavely/USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off of their bye, and are healthy and rested. Their Week 8 opponent, the Pittsburgh Steelers, have their share of noteworthy injuries, including to one of the best players in the NFL. 

Here's the Eagles-Steelers injury report, with analysis.

Player Injury WedThursFriStatus 
DE Brandon GrahamHamstringDNPLimitedLimited-
RT Lane Johnson Concussion Limited Full Full  - 
RG Isaac Seumalo Ankle Limited Full Full  - 
CB Josh Jobe Shoulder Full Full Full  - 
QB Jalen Hurts Personal -Limited  - 


Wednesday notes:

• Johnson remains in the protocol after suffering a concussion Week 6 against the Cowboys. My understanding is that he has a good chance of playing on Sunday.

• Graham's hamstring injury is a surprise. The Eagles bolstered their DE depth by trading for Robert Quinn on Wednesday. It will be interesting to see if he can play this Sunday.

Thursday notes:

• Johnson's full participation in practice pretty much means that he'll be a go for Sunday.

• Graham's upgrade from no practice to limited practice is a step in the right direction. #Analysis.

Friday notes:

• Everyone is a go.

Notable players on IR, PUP, suspension, etc.

• DE Derek Barnett (IR): Barnett tore his ACL Week 1 against the Lions, and his season is over. After a 2021 season in which he had 8 penalties vs. 2.5 sacks, Barnett lost his starting job, but remained a depth player poised to get his share of snaps in 2022.


Player Injury Wed Thurs Fri Status 
DT Larry OgunjobiKneeDNPDNPDNP Out 
CB Levi Wallace Shoulder  DNP  DNP DNP Out 
DB Josh Jackson Groin  DNP  Limited Limited Questionable Out
DT Montravius Adams Hamstring  DNP  Full Full 
WR Steven Sims Hamstring  Limited Full Full 
TE Pat Freiermuth Ankle   Limited  Full Full 
CB Ahkello Witherspoon Hamstring  Full  Full Full 
K Chris Boswell Groin  -Questionable Out


Wednesday notes

• The Steelers are banged up at corner and they could be thin along the interior of their defensive line.

Thursday notes

• Ogunjobi and Wallace remain out of practice, but the rest of the Steelers' players on the injury report took a step forward.

Friday notes:

• Ogunjobi and Wallace are out, but perhaps more interestingly, the Steelers' kicker is a surprise addition to the injury report.

Saturday notes

• The Steelers ruled out K Chris Boswell and CB Josh Jackson. To replace Boswell, the Steelers signed Nick Sciba, a rookie kicker who made 23 of 25 field goals and all 65 of his PATs for Wake Forest in 2021.

Notable players on IR, PUP, suspension, etc.

OLB T.J. Watt: Watt was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021, and he earned three straight first-team All-Pro nods in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He had 22.5 sacks in 2021, 15.0 in 2020, 14.5 in 2019, and 13.0 in 2018. From 2018 to 2021, Watt led the NFL with 65 sacks. A list of the NFL's sack leaders during that span:

Player Sacks 
T.J. Watt 65.0 
Aaron Donald 59.0 
Myles Garrett 51.5 
Cameron Jordan 47.5 
Chandler Jones 43.5 
Chris Jones 41.0 
Shaquil Barrett 40.5 
Robert Quinn 38.5 
DeForest Buckner 36.0 
Khalil Mack 36.0 


In summary, he's pretty good. #Analysis.

Unfortunately for the Steelers, Watt went on IR Week 2 with a pectoral injury. It was looking like a possibility that he would return in time for this matchup against the Eagles, but he had a scope to clean out his knee a couple weeks ago, delaying his return. The Steelers have their bye Week 9, so Watt's more realistic timeframe for return is probably Week 10.

DT DeMarvin Leal: Leal was the Steelers' third-round pick in 2022. He has 9 tackles and 3 batted passes in 5 games.


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