Yesterday, June the 18th, you might never have known Sean Spence's career was nearly over before it began.
After tearing three ligaments in his knee in his rookie season, as well as suffering significant nerve damage, Spence has been in recovery for two years rehabbing. During this time, he's had no on field experience and virtually no practice time with the team.
Even when he nearly made it back during the 2013, a broken finger derailed any opportunity of a comeback.
So yesterday, as Spence made it through his first full spring practice with the team since his rookie season, it was a big moment for him and the team who has shown remarkable patience whilst he recovered.
Spence rewarded that patience by hauling in a Landry Jones pass yesterday in practice, showing a glimpse of the kind of playmaker he could be for the Steelers.
Per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune, Spence was just putting together everything he learned in practice. "I pretty much had a spot drop, and Coach (Keith) Butler has been pretty much harping on spot drops and reading the quarterback eyes all week," Spence said. "I finally put it all together and got an interception."
As the offense were pinned within their 5-yard line, Spence dropped into coverage, picked off the pass intended for Darrius Heyward-Bey and took it back for the touchdown.
Reports out of OTAs suggested Spence was looking healthy and moving unhindered. This is just further evidence that Spence is nearly, if not entirely all the way back from his gruesome injury.
Per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Spence is feeling good about the interception and how he's feeling.