Tavares at 34 picked up an injury after hitting Montreal Canadiens forward Michael Pezzetta during the first period of a preseason game. He stayed in until the third period when he left the ice.
"It wasn't so bad afterwards, but throughout the second and especially in the third, it just got really, really stiff and I didn't have much," Tavares said after the game. "I told Craig I would just keep [shifts] short, but he determined to give me the rest of the night off."
"I didn't want to take a chance," said Berube. "It was my call."
Last year Tavares found the net 29 times and hit 65 points across 80 games.
Jarnkrok is out too with lower-body issues. No preseason appearances yet. Thursday's practice with Auston Matthews was his last before sitting again.
Steeves last joined the team in their 2-1 preseason loss to the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday.