Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree's 2020 campaign ended prematurely due to a season-ending torn ACL sustained in a Week 12 victory against the Baltimore Ravens. Two months into his road to recovery, the 27-year-old is “feeling great” and is optimistic about being ready for the 2021 season.

Via NFL Network‘s Good Morning Football:

“I'm feeling great right now,” Bud Dupree said. “I'm ahead of schedule in rehab. It's a great thing as always, it's a blessing. I'm on track. And I'm going to be ready for camp. It's a blessing to take the small things from a big injury like there was, and just know that I'm still able to perform next season.”

Bud Dupree has been a key cog for the Steelers' stifling defensive unit along with fellow linebacker T.J. Watt. He produced a total of eight sacks and 31 tackles before he went down with the gruesome injury.

Dupree played the 2020 NFL season on a $15.8 million franchise tag and is set to hit the free-agent market in the coming offseason. With a reduced salary cap brought by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Steelers are in a bit of a cap crunch.

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It remains to be seen if they can afford to bring back Dupree. There will surely be teams ready to swoop in and attempt to acquire his services to give their respective defensive rotations a much-needed boost.

Nonetheless, Bud Dupree's positive remarks regarding his condition certainly serve as an encouraging sign as he delves into the uncertainty of the offseason in the coming months.