Steelers couldn't have asked for better timing for key player's return
As the Pittsburgh Steelers start their preparation for their second game against the Baltimore Ravens of the season -which was moved to Sunday's primetime slot- they expect to get a significant starter back in the lineup. After missing the last game with a hamstring injury, the team is expecting safety Terrell Edmunds back for Sunday […]
As the Pittsburgh Steelers start their preparation for their second game against the Baltimore Ravens of the season -which was moved to Sunday's primetime slot- they expect to get a significant starter back in the lineup.
After missing the last game with a hamstring injury, the team is expecting safety Terrell Edmunds back for Sunday Night Football.
"I'm assuming that (Terrell Edmunds) is going to push back toward availability, but I just didn't want to be presumptuous," Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday. "We’ll let his participation and the quality of his participation be our guide. But I fully expect him to be available to us."
Obviously, Edmunds is a very important piece for the Steelers defense on any given week. But specifically against the Ravens, his presence on the field is a must. The team couldn't have asked for better timing.
Just think about Edmunds' game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 15. The safety was a force stopping the run-heavy approach of the Panthers by spending significant time in the box.
In the Steelers' first game against the Ravens, Edmunds spent most of the game in the slot (24 snaps) and in the box (also 24 snaps). Not only was he asked to make stops in the running game but even saw coverage snaps on the Ravens' top weapon Mark Andrews, who Tomlin pointed out as a priority for the defense ahead of Sunday.
Tomlin talked about how Edmunds' return impacts a versatile group of safeties while noting that it doesn't change things a whole lot for Pittsburgh's defense.
"We move Minkah (Fitzpatrick) around week-to-week based on game planning, and it doesn't have a lot to do with who his partner may be," detailed the Steelers head coach. "Edmunds is versatile in that way, allows us to do that; (Damontae) Kazee is versatile in that way, and allows us to do that."
The Steelers head coach also confirmed linebacker Marcus Allen had season-ending surgery while linebacker Myles Jack's and defensive back Tre Norwood's availability will depend on their work throughout the week.
Featured image via Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
