Coach Mike Tomlin said the biceps injury to defensive end Stephon Tuitt is not what the Steelers initially feared and said he even has a remote chance to play Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.
"It's really positive, compared to what it could've been," Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "It's not season-ending."
Tomlin said Tuitt's "short-term availability is in question" and the team will monitor his arm strength and how it functions. But when asked if Tuitt has a remote chance of playing against the Vikings, Tomlin said, "He does."
Tuitt, who signed a six-year, $61.05 million contract Saturday, made two big plays to start the game in Cleveland, including stopping running back Isaiah Crowell for a 9-yard loss on second down. It was on that play when he injured his arm and never returned.
Meantime, Tomlin said backup safety J.J. Wilcox, who was involved in a goal-line collision against the Browns, is in concussion protocol.
Tomlin said the number of penalties in Cleveland _ 13 for 144 yards _ "kills drives, kills balance and reduces the number of snaps (55)." The Steelers scored only two touchdowns and managed just 290 yards on offense.
"You can chalk it up to Le'Veon missing camp or whatever, but the reality is it puts you behind chains and the point total is going to reflect that," Tomlin said.
Also, Tomlin said an unnecessary roughness penalty against cornerback William Gay was called after the officials watched the play on the stadium replay board. Tomlin, a member of the league's competition committee, said "I'm all for player safety, but I don't accept that."
