Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts is moving in a positive direction for his availability this weekend.
While Pitts was limited with a hamstring injury for Wednesday’s practice, he was upgraded to a full participant on Atlanta’s Thursday injury report.
Pitts, 23, caught 53 passes for 667 yards with three touchdowns last season.
The Falcons added cornerback Antonio Hamilton to their practice report with a groin injury.
Linebacker Nate Landman was again limited with a quad injury.
Russell Wilson’s training camp started with a calf injury and the Steelers quarterback is dealing with more calf issues days before the team’s first game of the regular season.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Thursday that Wilson was limited in practice earlier in the day. Tomlin said that calf tightness was the reason why he did not fully participate.
It’s the same calf that Wilson hurt in his training camp conditioning test and Tomlin said that Wilson will be going for further evaluation. The team will announce injury designations for their road game against the Falcons on Friday.
If Wilson is unable to go, Justin Fields would be in line to make the start for the Steelers. Fields was acquired after the Steelers signed Wilson, but Tomlin said Wilson was in pole position to start to kick off the offseason and the pecking order never changed despite Wilson’s missed time. It remains to be seen if the current calf issue will have any long-term impact on the situation.
Kirk Cousins hasn’t played since Oct. 29, tearing his Achilles on his 61st snap against the Packers. The quarterback now plays for a new team, and at 36 and with a first-round rookie backing him up, doesn’t know how much longer he will play.
Cousins will make his debut with the Falcons on Sunday against the Steelers.
He is eager for the first live hit, free of a red non-contact practice jersey.
“In a sick way, you do [want] to get popped,” Cousins said, via Terrin Waack of the team website. “I’ll probably tell the first guy that hits me, ‘Thank you,’ within reason. It’s good to get that taste of blood in your mouth a little bit.”
Cousins was not on the Falcons’ first injury report of the season, with Atlanta listing inside linebacker Nate Landman (quad) and tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) as limited participants Wednesday.
Falcons coach Raheem Morris expects Pitts to play.
"[He] went out there and practiced the other day for us and did a really good job,” Morris said. “He had a hamstring a couple weeks ago or whatever it was. It really hasn’t affected him too much. He’s been out there practicing, doing just about everything, and we’re ready to go.”
Cameron Heyward got what he wanted — a chance to be a “one-helmet” player — with a three-year, $45 million deal that runs through 2026. He will be 37 at the end of the deal, giving him a chance to retire with the team that drafted him.
“That’s all I could ask for, the chance to be a one-helmet guy,” Heyward said Wednesday, via Teresa Varley of the team website. “I got to play like it, but that’s the way I’ve always viewed it. When I first got here, getting drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, I couldn’t think about playing for another team. That’s always been a goal of mine. When I told my mom in the car when I was on my way down here to sign, she was talking about how rare it is. You know, I think it’s me and Cam Jordan left that are able to say that. It’s really special to try to live that legacy in one place.”
The Steelers drafted him in the first round in 2011, and his latest contract is his fourth with the team. He has made more than $131 million, giving the Steelers six Pro Bowl seasons and three All-Pro seasons.
“It’s awesome in the sense that it’s good to put to bed, but if I could sit here and tell you that’s all I was thinking about, I’d be lying,” Heyward said. “The goal is on the season, and that was just a piece of the puzzle, and now I have to put that to bed. I am excited to just worry about football, excited to just play good football.”
Heyward’s teammates elected him a team captain for the 10th time in his career.
Pittsburgh running back Jaylen Warren is dealing with an injury, but he said he’s still expecting to play in the season opener against the Falcons.
Warren was limited on Wednesday with a hamstring issue, according to Pittsburgh’s injury report.
“It feels good,” Warren said, via Teresa Varley of the team’s website. “We’re going to take it slow. I’ll be ready by Sunday.”
Warren, 25, recorded 1,154 yards from scrimmage for the Steelers last season, playing 49 percent of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps. He rushed for 784 yards with four touchdowns, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He caught 61 passes for 370 yards.
As head coach Mike Tomlin noted, guard Isaac Seumalo did not participate on Wednesday as he deals with a pectoral injury. Defensive tackle Logan Lee (calf) also did not practice.
Receiver Roman Wilson (ankle), cornerback Cory Trice (groin), and offensive tackle Tony Fautanu (knee) were all limited.