OLB Jarvis Jones, IR-designated to return, practicing today w/ @Steelers. 3-week window open. Can be added to 53-man roster thru Dec. 15
— Bob Labriola (@BobLabriola) November 24, 2014
He's not far off now.
Steelers outside linebacker was placed on IR-Designated to Return after the team's Week 3 win over the Carolina Panthers. A wrist injury and subsequent surgery have kept him off of the practice field until today.
Jones beginning to practice means the team now has three weeks in which he can practice and be activated from the list at any point during that time. If he's not activated after that three-week period, though, he'll be placed on injured reserve, thus ending his season.
Steelers right guard David DeCastro was placed on IR-Recall in 2012 and he came back two weeks after he began practicing, starting his first game in Week 15. Jones would be set for a return no later than the team's Week 16 game at home against the Kansas City Chiefs - he would have to be activated Dec. 15 and be eligible to play in the team's game the following weekend. The Steelers play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15, not very far from where Jones excelled as an All-American outside linebacker at the University of Georgia.
The Steelers' defense has been quietly improving during the past few weeks, particularly their front seven. The addition of a healthy Jones to that group would provide them the depth they simply haven't had at the outside linebacker position all year.
There was a point when the Steelers fiddled a bit with Jones playing more of an inside linebacker position in nickel packages and on passing downs. It would be interesting to see if Jones can contribute in a similar capacity while keeping James Harrison and Jason Worilds on the field.
Time will tell when Jones will be ready to play and, technically, it might be this weekend against the Saints. The Steelers will also find out today whether cornerback Ike Taylor, injured in the same game against the Panthers, will be able to play this weekend. Linebacker Ryan Shazier and safety Troy Polamalu are both expected to return this weekend against the Saints.