Steelers News: Would a late-season return by JuJu Smith-Schuster be a difference maker?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 16 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the New York Jets we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how if JuJu Smith-Schuster were to return to the team in Weeks 16 or 17, would it make a big difference?

Let’s get to the news:

• JuJu Smith-Schuster says he wants a late season return to the offense, but could that mean an uptick in production for the struggling unit?

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster hoping for late-season return to Steelers

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

He has missed four consecutive games and incurred a setback last week when he aggravated his knee injury in practice.

Still, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster hasn’t given up hope of returning for the final two weeks of the regular season.

“It all depends on how my knee feels when I go out and practice,” Smith-Schuster said Monday.

Smith-Schuster didn’t provide a timetable for a return to the practice field this week. The Steelers begin on-field preparations Wednesday for their penultimate game, which is Sunday at the New York Jets.

Smith-Schuster returned to practice last week but left practice early Thursday and did not practice Friday. He tested his knee with a series of runs before warmups Sunday night when the Steelers played the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Devlin Hodges gave the Bills some bulletin board material before Week 15, or did he?

Tim Benz: What Steelers QB Duck Hodges actually said that motivated the Bills

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Buffalo Bills defensive lineman Shaq Lawson used a perceived slight from Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges for motivation during his team’s 17-10 win at Heinz Field Sunday night.

He claims Hodges referred to the Bills defense as “normal.”

Seeing as how Buffalo was ranked in the top three in total yards against, passing yards against and points against, they are hardly normal.

And based on what Hodges said to me, he concurred.

On Wednesday, I asked him “what makes Buffalo’s defense as good as it is?”

Here is how he responded, in a tone I felt was complimentary.

“They are just a solid group. They’ve got really good players all around. I don’t know if there is anything they do just special. But they just are a solid, solid defense that comes each and every week. Ready to play.”

Are those fightin’ words, Shaq? Geez! If that’s what the guy says when he is trying to dis somebody, what does he do when he tries to praise them? Throw rose petals at their feet?

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Think the Ravens would sit starters if they lock up the top seed in the AFC in Week 17? John Harbaugh isn’t saying what his plans are...

John Harbaugh says Ravens haven’t made any Week 17 plans

By: Josh Alper, ProFootballTalk

Before the Ravens beat the Jets last Thursday, there was a report indicating that the Ravens would likely rest quarterback Lamar Jackson in Week 17 if they had locked up the top playoff seed in the AFC.

Last Thursday’s win means that they can accomplish that task by beating the Browns this weekend. On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh was asked if the team will indeed sit Jackson if they knock off Cleveland this weekend.

Harbaugh said “no plans have been made” at this point.

“I’ll just decide that when the time comes,” Harbaugh said, via the Baltimore Sun. “Like I said, we’re not there. When we get there, we’ll be there, and we’ll go from there.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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