Dupree eyes return to practice next week; Where’s Justin Gilbert?
PITTSBURGH 无毛视频� What the Steelers wouldn无毛视频檛 give for a few more sacks, like, maybe a dozen of them. The Steelers无毛视频� meager eight sacks are 14 short of the NFL team lead and one fewer than the league无毛视频檚 individual leader.
The good news is that the Steelers could soon get some help. Bud Dupree, on IR since undergoing groin surgery in early September, said Thursday that he hopes to practice next week, which could clear the way for him to return shortly thereafter. Of course, a lot of things can happen between now and then, including setbacks.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 in football shape, but my muscles in my legs, my groin is getting sore fast, so I have to get past that sore stage,无毛视频� Dupree said. 无毛视频淥nce I无毛视频檓 doing that and having a (workload), then I无毛视频檒l be good.无毛视频�
Dupree is one of three players the Steelers have on IR, along with RT Ryan Harris and CB Senquez Golson, but only one can be brought back on the 53-man roster. The second-year linebacker, the 22nd overall pick last year, would seem the most likely candidate. The Steelers will have 21 days after Dupree无毛视频檚 first practice to make a decision but he could come back, conceivably, next week.
With the Steelers struggling mightily in the pass rush, Dupree could help out. He had four sacks last season and the Steelers were hoping he would start this season.
NOTEWORTHY
n With CB Artie Burns telling reporters that he无毛视频檇 make his first start this week over Will Gay, it begs the question: What happened to Justin Gilbert? You无毛视频檒l recall that Gilbert无毛视频檚 the 24-year-old former first-round pick the Steelers acquired from Cleveland on Sept. 3 in exchange for a 2018 sixth-round pick. Gilbert has played just 11 defensive snaps and is becoming this season无毛视频檚 Brandon Boykin. 无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 still learning the defense,无毛视频� coordinator Keith Butler said. 无毛视频淚 think he无毛视频檚 getting more and more comfortable. As he goes, the more confidence we get in him that he knows what he无毛视频檚 doing, and that无毛视频檚 the biggest thing in terms of him playing, and sometimes that takes a while. Even though you无毛视频檝e missed our training camp and stuff like that, we无毛视频檙e trying to game plan some of the basic stuff we do that无毛视频檚 covered in training camp he无毛视频檚 missed. He无毛视频檚 trying to catch up in that regard.无毛视频� One area you can expect to see Gilbert is on kick returns. He无毛视频檚 had three returns with an average of 23 yards, including a 32-yard return in Week 7 vs. the Patriots.
n By all outward appearances, it would seem that QB Ben Roethlisberger will play Sunday against Baltimore, though nothing has been made official. The Steelers are keeping a tight lid on Roethlisberger无毛视频檚 status, only to say that he无毛视频檚 been a limited participant. 无毛视频淗e looked good out there, he knows what he无毛视频檚 supposed to do,无毛视频� offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. 无毛视频淲e无毛视频檒l see.无毛视频�
Roethlisberger has been taking some first-team snaps along with Landry Jones, who started and played well in the Steelers无毛视频� Week 7 loss against New England. Haley said that not much changes are expected in terms of game plan between quarterbacks, but added that they 无毛视频渢ailor things specifically for one guy or another.无毛视频� With Roethlisberger having missed six starts since the start of last season, Haley says he无毛视频檚 kind of used to it. 无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 actually starting to feel more comfortable. We just have been through it a bunch the last couple of years. Not our quarterback specifically, but we无毛视频檝e had a lot of moving parts. Our job is to get the guys ready to play whoever it is.无毛视频�
n Ladarius Green is practicing and could come back this week, but that final determination isn无毛视频檛 up to him. That, the tight end said, is up to coach Mike Tomlin. If Tomlin has given Green any indication whether he无毛视频檒l play Sunday in Baltimore, Green wasn无毛视频檛 sharing it on Thursday. Neither was Haley, but the offensive coordinator spoke highly of what he无毛视频檚 seen from Green on tape and in the last week of practice. 无毛视频淭he reason we signed him and brought him here is he无毛视频檚 a talented guy that无毛视频檚 big and fast and has made some plays,无毛视频� Haley said. 无毛视频淏ut right now I无毛视频檓 just focused on this week and what无毛视频檚 happening. Coach will make those decisions. We just have to be ready to go.无毛视频� The Steelers will have until 4 p.m. on Saturday to announce whether Green will be taken off the PUP list this week.
n At least one person was celebrating the Chicago Cubs first World Series victory since 1908: L.J. Fort. The linebacker was raised in Missouri but his parents are from Chicago and he无毛视频檚 always rooted for the Cubs, routinely attending games at Wrigley Field. Fort says he grew up a fan of Sammy Sosa and Mark Pryor.
n The Steelers were feted with a large post-practice buffet in the locker room on Thursday courtesy of LB Vince Williams. Why? 无毛视频淏ecause Vinny无毛视频檚 awesome,无毛视频� said rookie S Sean Davis. Also, Williams recently signed a three-year, $5.5 million contract.
PRACTICE REPORT
Steelers, did not practice: RB DeAngelo Williams (knee), C/G Cody Wallace (knee); Limited: QB Ben Roethlisberger; Full: WR Antonio Brown (hip), T Marcus Gilbert (ankle), DE Cam Heyward (hamstring), S Shamarko Thomas (groin), WR Markus Wheaton (shoulder)
Ravens, did not practice: LB Kamalei Correa (thigh), LB Elvis Dumervil (foot), TE Crockett Gilmore (thigh), CB Shareece Wright (thigh); Limited: LB C.J. Mosley (thigh), WR Steve Smith, Sr. (ankle); Full: T Ronnie Stanley (foot), LB Terrell Suggs (bicep), CB Ladarius Webb (thigh), G Marshal Yanda (shoulder), CB Tavon Young (concussion)
QUOTEWORTHY
无毛视频淗e无毛视频檚 one of my favorite players that I无毛视频檝e ever been around in my 20 years of coaching.无毛视频�
Todd Haley, offensive coordinator, on WR Darrius Heyward-Bey.
BY THE NUMBERS
1/2 : Odds that Steelers win AFC North, according to Bovada. The Steelers improved their odds during the bye week.