Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster is nearing a return. However, his lingering knee injury isn't quite fully recovered, according to reports.
Smith-Schuster has made plans to play on Sunday against the New York Jets, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. However, the team needs to monitor his pain tolerance going into the game to make sure he will play.
On Friday, Smith-Schuster called himself a game-time decision.
“It's coming along,” Smith-Schuster said, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. “It's a process. Taking it slow. The knee is kind of tricky. You don't really know you're a full go until you run your full speed, when you're getting hit, getting tackled. Hopefully I'm able to go this week and play.”
“I don't feel 100 percent,” Smith-Schuster said, “but I'm going to see what I can do.” Whether or not that means he plays or not is up to the training staff.
Though not performing up to expectations in 2019, the Steelers and their undrafted rookie quarterback Devlin Hodges could certainly use him on Sunday. An anemic offense can use all the star power it can get.
On the season, Smith-Schuster has 38 receptions for 524 yards and three touchdowns. He entered the year slated to take over and possibly flourish in the No. 1 wide receiver role. Though he's the top option, the flourish part hasn't exactly happened.
Smith-Schuster has missed the last four contests due to the knee injury and a concussion sustained against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11. Though certainly not the year he envisioned, the star 23-year-old can end it on a good note by helping the Steelers' playoff push by playing.
Follow Us
Subscribe