The Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive line has taken some big blows to their depth at the position. Tyson Alualu was injured his knee in the win over the Baltimore Ravens, Isaiah Buggs has been hampered with an ankle injury and those two injuries have forced the likes of Henry Mondeaux and Carlos Davis into action.
While the team is thankful Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt remain the primary players on the defensive front, getting Alualu back prior to the Week 10 game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals was a huge boost at the position. More good news could be on the way in the form of Chris Wormley returning to practice Wednesday.
This per Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Chris Wormley will return to practice for the Steelers, yet he remains on the reserve/injured list. The Steelers have 21 days to activate Wormley, who has been out with a knee injury.
— Joe Rutter (@tribjoerutter) November 18, 2020
The Steelers getting Wormley back at practice does not mean they will activate him anytime soon, but it should be worth noting Mike Tomlin was hopeful he would get the defensive lineman back sooner rather than later during his weekly press conference Tuesday.
“Mike Hilton is back to work tomorrow, and we are excited about that and Chris Wormley, as well, who has missed a significant amount of time with his knee injury.” Tomlin said. “In the midst of that, I think we’ve gotten an opportunity to play some young people like we have talked about quite a bit and gained some experience and have some success in the midst of that. All that does is strengthen us as we get some of those regulars back. We know with the adversity and the challenges that lie ahead that will be needed.”
Wormley’s return means the Steelers have 21 days to place him back on the 53-man roster, or Wormley will spend the rest of the season on Injured Reserve. This is the same protocol the team went through with Stefen Wisniewski, only to release Wisniewski once he was activated to the 53-man roster.
Getting Wormley back could not just add a veteran presence to the defensive line, but also help in their run defense. Wormley is not known for his pass rushing prowess, but for his ability to clog running lanes and slow down the opposition’s running attack. His return could be a boost for a defense who has surrendered over 140 yards on the ground in their last three games.
Up until his injury, Wormley had played sparingly, but you would have to think he would get the nod over players like Mondeaux and Davis when Tuitt, Alualu or Heyward need a break. Add the fact Buggs should be returning from his ankle injury and the Steelers’ defensive line could be getting healthy at just the right time.
Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the team as they prepare for the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11 of the 2020 regular season.