Pittsburgh Steelers WR Lance Moore still trying to play 'catch-up'

Everyone assumed Pittsburgh Steelers' wide receiver Justin Brown won the job as the team's third wide receiver by default since Lance Moore was out of the lineup with a groin injury.

But Brown has become a fixture in the slot in multiple-wide-receiver sets through three weeks of NFL action.

Moore is healthy now, and it seems Brown is holding onto his current spot on the depth chart. There's a great deal of confusion surrounding the way the team has handled this situation since Moore was a free-agent acquisition to fill the role vacated by Jerricho Cotchery, who left for the Carolina Panthers this off-season.

Ben Roethlisberger has spoken about the great rapport he has with Moore and the chemistry the wide receiver has quickly developed with him.

Moore's injury must have somehow derailed the progress that had been developing throughout training camp and the preseason.

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley told Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "He's in a catch-up situation, and he's got to work his way back."

Not exactly a glowing endorsement for Moore's playing time this Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers come to Heinz Field.

Moore hasn't been bashful about stating that his health status is 100 percent and referring all questions about his playing time to the coaching staff.

"You've got to ask the coaches. I'm playing (Sunday vs. the Buccaneers), but I don't know how much."

The Steelers would be wise to start allowing Moore to play more, at least in specific situations. After all, Moore made a career playing for the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees by exploiting defenders in the red zone. Of Moore's 38 career touchdowns, nearly 30 of those came in the red zone.

It might be a foregone conclusion that Moore will eventually take his rightful spot in the lineup, but until that time actually arrives, the shroud of confusion around how the Steelers have handled Moore's return to the lineup remains a mystery.