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But the fact he will practice fully this week, and possibly will play in Week 3 against Chicago will be received with a hero's welcome by fans.
The Steelers fill-in tight ends, David Paulson, David Johnson and Michael Palmer, have been inadequate to this point in the season. The 0-2 Steelers have rushed for 75 total yards - or two dozen shy of Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith's total in Week 2 against Dallas.
Tomlin confirmed the news fans have been longing to hear since Miller went down with a torn ACL against Cincinnati in Week 16 last year. If he does suit up and play in Week 3, it will have been approximately nine months since the injury.
While that still seems like an early timetable for the return of a player after that kind of a surgery, the Steelers may simply just need to get him on the field. Odds are long to reach the post-season for teams starting 0-2 - it hasn't happened in the last four seasons.
To Tomlin's point, there's a lot more work that needs to be done in the running game. Miller's return won't fix all of that, but it provides a semblance of hope that it's even possible to be fixed.
More from Behind the Steel Curtain:
- Steelers vs. Bengals Postgame news updates and info
- Le'Veon Bell will do individual drills this week
- Grading the Steelers' new starters in Week 2
- Steelers 27th in recent power rankings
- Cotchery has 47 snaps to Wheaton's 5
- Heyward coming alive for Steelers defense
- Twitter reaction to Steelers loss to Bengals
- Power has gone out of the Steelers defense
- Steelers offense ranks among bottom-feeders statistically
- Winners and Losers from the Steelers' 20-10 Week 2 loss at Cincinnati
- Bengals take down Steelers 20-10 in Week 2
- Haley: DeCastro was affected by Pouncey's injury