Dupree eyes return to practice next week; Where’s Justin Gilbert?
PITTSBURGH 鈥� What the Steelers wouldn鈥檛 give for a few more sacks, like, maybe a dozen of them. The Steelers鈥� meager eight sacks are 14 short of the NFL team lead and one fewer than the league鈥檚 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.
鈥淚鈥檓 in football shape, but my muscles in my legs, my groin is getting sore fast, so I have to get past that sore stage,鈥� Dupree said. 鈥淥nce I鈥檓 doing that and having a (workload), then I鈥檒l be good.鈥�
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鈥檚 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鈥檇 make his first start this week over Will Gay, it begs the question: What happened to Justin Gilbert? You鈥檒l recall that Gilbert鈥檚 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鈥檚 Brandon Boykin. 鈥淗e鈥檚 still learning the defense,鈥� coordinator Keith Butler said. 鈥淚 think he鈥檚 getting more and more comfortable. As he goes, the more confidence we get in him that he knows what he鈥檚 doing, and that鈥檚 the biggest thing in terms of him playing, and sometimes that takes a while. Even though you鈥檝e missed our training camp and stuff like that, we鈥檙e trying to game plan some of the basic stuff we do that鈥檚 covered in training camp he鈥檚 missed. He鈥檚 trying to catch up in that regard.鈥� One area you can expect to see Gilbert is on kick returns. He鈥檚 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鈥檚 status, only to say that he鈥檚 been a limited participant. 鈥淗e looked good out there, he knows what he鈥檚 supposed to do,鈥� offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see.鈥�
Roethlisberger has been taking some first-team snaps along with Landry Jones, who started and played well in the Steelers鈥� 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 鈥渢ailor things specifically for one guy or another.鈥� With Roethlisberger having missed six starts since the start of last season, Haley says he鈥檚 kind of used to it. 鈥淚t鈥檚 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鈥檝e had a lot of moving parts. Our job is to get the guys ready to play whoever it is.鈥�
n Ladarius Green is practicing and could come back this week, but that final determination isn鈥檛 up to him. That, the tight end said, is up to coach Mike Tomlin. If Tomlin has given Green any indication whether he鈥檒l play Sunday in Baltimore, Green wasn鈥檛 sharing it on Thursday. Neither was Haley, but the offensive coordinator spoke highly of what he鈥檚 seen from Green on tape and in the last week of practice. 鈥淭he reason we signed him and brought him here is he鈥檚 a talented guy that鈥檚 big and fast and has made some plays,鈥� Haley said. 鈥淏ut right now I鈥檓 just focused on this week and what鈥檚 happening. Coach will make those decisions. We just have to be ready to go.鈥� 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鈥檚 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? 鈥淏ecause Vinny鈥檚 awesome,鈥� 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
鈥淗e鈥檚 one of my favorite players that I鈥檝e ever been around in my 20 years of coaching.鈥�
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.