Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf is expected to play Monday night after spending Sunday night in Baltimore due to stomach pains.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Tuesday that Metcalf is “moving in the right direction” toward suiting up for the crucial Week 15 matchup against the visiting Miami Dolphins (6-7).
Metcalf, who will turn 28 on Sunday, rejoined the team in Pittsburgh on Monday after going to a Baltimore hospital and staying in a hotel overnight following the Steelers’ 27-22 win over the Ravens.
“I don’t think it’s going to jeopardize his availability at all, but it certainly may jeopardize his availability at the early portions of the week from a practice standpoint,” Tomlin said about Metcalf’s hospital stay. “Thankfully he’s fine. I’m appreciative of our medical staff and how quickly they acted and making sure that he was safe and taking care of him postgame.”
Tomlin cited an in-game hit that caused Metcalf to begin experiencing stomach pains, which worsened to the point the veteran receiver was removed from the team plane in Baltimore by medical personnel.
“He got hit in the abdomen or stomach in-game,” Tomlin said. “I think they gave him some basic over-the-counter remedies in-game like Pepto or something like that and it got probably progressively worse after the game, so I’m appreciative of our medical experts. We just exercised an abundance of caution. We didn’t want to get him in the air without having a complete understanding about what he was dealing with, and they did a good job of that.”
A seven-year veteran in his first season with Pittsburgh (7-6), Metcalf posted a season-high 148 yards on seven receptions Sunday. In 13 games this season, he has 52 receptions for 753 yards and five touchdowns along with two rushes for 12 yards and a score. A second-round pick of the Seattle Seahawks in the 2019 draft, Metcalf has tallied 490 catches for 7,077 yards and 53 scores.
In other Steelers injury news, offensive tackle Andrus Peat, linebacker Malik Harrison and tight end Darnell Washington are in concussion protocol. Tomlin said defensive lineman Keeanu Benton (ankle) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) might be limited in practice after suffering injuries Sunday.
Safety Kyle Dugger, who missed Sunday’s game with a hand injury, might suit up Monday, Tomlin said. Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee), a first-round pick in 2025, has missed the last two games, and his status for Monday is up in the air.
The banged-up Steelers were given Wednesday off by Tomlin and will practice Thursday.
