Curtis Brown returns to practice field Wednesday

Steelers cornerback Curtis Brown suffered an ankle injury last week, forcing him out of the Steelers' preseason-opening loss to the Giants. He returned to the field Wednesday, perfect timing, considering the relative shallow pool of cornerbacks the Steelers have, and the amount of practice time still left before the Steelers head to Landover, Md., to take on the Redskins Monday.

There's a lot riding on Brown's ability to get on the field this preseason. With the acquisition of William Gay, and the Steelers' decision to move him inside in nickel situations, along with Cortez Allen's absence for presumably the remainder of training camp, it's Brown's chance to show he can be more than just a gunner on the punt team.

If he can step into that outside corner role in nickel situations, he'll provide critical value to the Steelers' somewhat questionable cornerbacks group.

In the time he's been injured, he's seen Isaiah Green hop over Josh Victorian for that nickel spot (in Allen's absence, Gay is the second cornerback). Brown, a fourth-year veteran from Texas, is in a make-or-break year in Pittsburgh. Players like Victorian and Green have come in after him and have been impressive.

In the end, it's a good problem for the Steelers to have. If everyone remains healthy, and a true competition can occur (consisting of the results on the field, not based on who's not on it), the team will ultimately improve.

More from Behind the Steel Curtain:

• Training camp updates
• Steelers depth chart: Brian Moorman and Drew Butler punter battle intensifies
• Steelers training camp update: Shaun Suisham hits 60-yard field goal in practice
• Steelers vs Redskins: Reggie Dunn replaces David Gilreath as punt returner
• Steelers vs Redskins: Hebron Fangupo remains ahead of Alameda Ta'amu
• Steelers vs Redskins: Shamarko Thomas catches Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith