Steelers feel good about health of their star players
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� The Steelers opened the second half of their season in rapidly improving health, if the participants of Monday无毛视频檚 practice was any indication.
One of those participants was the big man himself, Ben Roethlisberger, who 无毛视频渄id one or two periods,无毛视频� according to guard David DeCastro and 无毛视频渟ome 7-on-7 as well,无毛视频� according to tackle Marcus Gilbert.
Gilbert, who also made his return as a rotational first-teamer, added of Roethlisberger: 无毛视频淚t was very encouraging. You see a guy like that putting in the time in the training room, doing extra work in the bye week, trying to get himself as healthy as possible so that when he comes back he无毛视频檒l be so effective he无毛视频檒l help us get these games in and get our offense rolling again.
无毛视频淚f he can无毛视频檛, Landry (Jones) did a tremendous job last game, and I think he无毛视频檚 only going to get more comfortable.无毛视频�
The players were enthused by Roethlisberger无毛视频檚 appearance, but Markus Wheaton spoke for the majority when he was asked if it would be surprising to see Roethlisberger play in Baltimore on Sunday.
无毛视频淚 would,无毛视频� said Wheaton. 无毛视频淚t would. But it would be nice.无毛视频�
Call it a cautious optimism.
无毛视频淏en did great,无毛视频� said DeCastro. 无毛视频淗e came back quicker than I expected, but I didn无毛视频檛 really have too many expectations. I无毛视频檒l just be happy when he无毛视频檚 back.无毛视频�
无毛视频淭he guy threw the ball, he moved around the pocket pretty good,无毛视频� said Gilbert. 无毛视频淗e无毛视频檒l play if he无毛视频檚 willing and able to take those hits, because they无毛视频檙e going to come. So he has to do what无毛视频檚 in his best interest so he doesn无毛视频檛 have any setbacks.无毛视频�
While the Roethlisberger Watch over whether he can return 20 days after undergoing a meniscus 无毛视频渢rim无毛视频� in his left knee will continue all week, the rest of the Steelers first team appears to be healthy, and that includes Cameron Heyward, who confirmed that he practiced full-time on Monday.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檒l know more (Tuesday) about whether I can play Sunday,无毛视频� Heyward said of a hamstring injury that无毛视频檚 kept him out of two games. 无毛视频淎s of right now, yes, I feel good. I无毛视频檝e just got to see. I无毛视频檓 going to be a little sore, but I无毛视频檓 going to keep practicing and try to get after it. Moving in the right direction.无毛视频�
Heyward无毛视频檚 goal this week is to 无毛视频渂uild strength in the hamstring and get my conditioning right,无毛视频� he said, 无毛视频渂ecause if I do get fatigued I want to make sure it doesn无毛视频檛 get fatigued and I re-injure it. But it was really good today.无毛视频�
无毛视频淵ou know Cam无毛视频檚 a real high-energy guy and he did a good job,无毛视频� said center Maurkice Pouncey. 无毛视频淗e was chasing the quarterback some. He was his normal self, yelling at practice. That was good for the defense. We need that type of player, that type of guy.无毛视频�
Wheaton also confirmed that he 无毛视频渞olled in the team (scrimmage) and then I tried to steal as much scout stuff as I could.无毛视频�
Wheaton did take a tumble on his shoulder when he was pushed out of bounds by Lawrence Timmons, but, 无毛视频淚t felt good though. It held up and I无毛视频檓 excited about that.无毛视频�
Even special-teamer Shamarko Thomas returned to the field. He confirmed that he and another hard hitter, Rosie Nix, were finally working together again on special teams.
One player who struggled a bit was tight end Ladarius Green. Just activated off the PUP list, Green confirmed that he had to shake off some pain and consult with a trainer.
无毛视频淏ut I无毛视频檓 all right,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淚 felt good. Good to have the pads back on.无毛视频�
Green said he took a few first-team reps but mainly worked with the scout team.
Green has two more weeks before the Steelers need to make a decision on his status, and they probably will take most of that time.
Otherwise, the Steelers are feeling good about their health status heading into Baltimore.
无毛视频淵eah, I think getting those four days off gave us time to relax and re-set a little bit,无毛视频� said DeCastro. 无毛视频淚 think everybody无毛视频檚 just mentally and physically ready to go.无毛视频�