Pittman Foot DNP Ahead of Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. did not practice Thursday with a foot injury after limited work Wednesday, a step the wrong way ahead of Sunday's Week 2 trip to the New England Patriots. Steelers Depot and CBS Sports both logged the Thursday sheet: Pittman as a DNP, with Friday's practice and final designation still the public call that decides whether he suits up in Foxborough.

Pittman is Pittsburgh's top outside target after arriving in the offseason. A second straight limited-or-worse day puts Roman Wilson in the conversation as the No. 2 receiver if Pittman cannot go, with Germie Bernard sliding into the No. 3 spot on that depth chart. Fantasy managers who locked Pittman as a volume WR2 now need Friday's stamp before setting lineups.

What else moved on Thursday's sheet

Defensive lineman Cam Heyward was a rest DNP and is still expected to play Sunday. Tight end Darnell Washington missed for personal reasons for a second straight day. Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. was limited with conditioning and back tags after leaving the media window with a trainer, and offensive tackle Troy Fautanu progressed to limited after sitting Wednesday. Those boards matter for the secondary and the left side of the line, but Pittman's foot is the clearest skill-position regression on the Thursday list.

Head coach Mike McCarthy's Friday injury report will carry game statuses. Until then, treat Pittman as trending away from a full practice week rather than inventing an inactive stamp that has not posted.

Patriots at 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Pittsburgh visits New England on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. ET. A Pittman absence would force more looks for Wilson early and change how New England shades coverage on early downs. If Pittman is limited Friday and listed questionable, the inactive call may wait until Sunday morning. If he is ruled out Friday afternoon, the Steelers get a full day to script Wilson and Bernard into the plan.

Pittman's foot board just got louder. Friday in Pittsburgh is the next public stamp before Foxborough.