<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0ihGMI_0wKdVlOS00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0ihGMI_0wKdVlOS00" width="1280" height="720" >As the Steelers prepare to take on the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, they are a team with the arrow pointed up as far as the injury report is concerned.Mind you, it's not perfect by any means, but considering the way it has been over the first portion of the season, things are looking up.As far as two players who missed the Jets game, linebacker Nick Herbig and center Zach Frazier, Coach Mike Tomlin didn't give a definite update on their availability for this week during his press conference, but neither player practiced on Thursday."We'll see where the week leads us," said Tomlin.If Frazier isn't able to go for the second straight week with his ankle injury, it will once again be Ryan McCollum who holds things down at the center position.Tomlin had high praise for McCollum's performance against the Jets, and knows he is going to need more of the same, and then some, this week against Giants All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II."I thought it was double thumbs up," said Tomlin of McCollum's performance. "I'm not surprised by that. As I mentioned, when I talked about Ryan last week, he's mature beyond his years. He brings a really professional approach. He's really urgent in everything he does, and I just think that tees you up for performance."I don't think any of us were surprised that he was above the line in terms of how he performed last week."This week is a new week, and with new weeks comes new challenges, and some of them big in the form of Dexter Lawrence."Tomlin referred to Lawrence as a 'problem' in the run game and passing game and understands it's going to be all hands on deck against him."Guys like Ryan McCollum, who are getting an opportunity to ascend and play, it's going to be a significant challenge," said Tomlin. "But we better do more than wish Ryan McCollum luck. We better give him some schematic help and be highly sensitive to this man's capabilities, and not only his capabilities, but just simply what he's putting on tape week in and week out as we sit here right now."Cornerback Donte Jackson, who left the Jets game with a shoulder injury, isn't expected to miss any playing time. A good sign for him was he was a full participant on Thursday."Donte Jackson went down in game with a shoulder, but that could be described as minor," said Tomlin. "It may affect him at the front part of this week and limit his participation, but in no means do I expect it to limit his game availability."Tomlin also expects to have safety Damontae Kazee available after he missed two straight games with a knee injury. He was a full participant on Thursday."I do expect Kazee to be back in action," said Tomlin. "He was a partial participant at the beginning of last week and moved to a full participant, but as we got close to game time, we thought it was prudent that we wait another week to include him."I don't expect any restrictions with him, to be quite honest, because he was at the doorstep of availability on Sunday night."The Steelers did bolster the depth in the secondary, signing cornerback C.J. Henderson to the active roster from the practice squad. Henderson was originally drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the ninth pick overall, by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has appeared in 49 games, starting 32, and has recorded 172 tackles, 139 of them solo stops, 16 passes defensed, six tackles for a loss, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack and fumble recovery.Henderson appeared in eight games for the Jaguars in 2020, starting all of them, before finishing the season on the Reserve/Injured List. He finished the season with 36 tackles, 27 of them solo stops, six passes defensed, one interception and one forced fumble.Henderson was traded to the Carolina Panthers early in the 2021 season and was with them through the 2023 season. He played in 12 games in 2023, starting seven, and finished the season with 39 tackles, 31 of them solo stops, and three tackles for a loss. He signed with the Houston Texans in 2024.Linebacker Tyler Matakevich returned to practice today but remains on the Reserve/Injured List.The Steelers have a 21-day window to either activate him to the 53-man roster, or he remains on the Reserve/Injured List the remainder of the year.Matakevich was placed on the Reserve/Injured List after suffering a hamstring injury against the Denver Broncos in Week 2. Matakevich recorded two special teams tackles this season prior to his injury.The only player Tomlin definitively ruled out during his press conference for the Giants game was defensive tackle Montravius Adams. His lack of availability was further confirmed when Adams was placed on the Reserve/Injured List with a knee injury suffered against the New York Jets.With Adams injured, the Steelers signed defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko to the practice squad. Fehoko originally signed with the Steelers as an unrestricted free agent prior to the 2023 season. He spent the previous three seasons (2020-2022) with the Los Angeles Chargers after signing with them as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft.Fehoko started the 2023 season on the Steelers practice squad but was promoted to the 53-man roster in season. He was later released from the 53-man roster and signed back to the practice squad. Fehoko has played in 19 career games, starting four of them.The full injury report is below.</div></body>

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Week 8 Injury Report (Giants)

As the Steelers prepare to take on the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, they are a team with the arrow pointed up as far as the injury report is concerned. Mind you, it's not perfect by any means, but considering the way it has been over the first portion of the season, things are looking up.