Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is expecting a bounce-back year from linebacker Devin Bush in the 2022 campaign after his roller-coaster 2021 season.
“I expect him to get better, just like I expect all of our young players to get better,” Tomlin said on Sunday. “I am excited about him getting back out there and having a clean bill of health.”
After suffering a season-ending torn ACL injury in the 2020 season, Bush made his return to action in 2021, where he played in 14 regular season contests and recorded 70 total tackles.
Bush did acknowledge during the season that he found dire difficulties in reverting back to his top form, as it was a “learning experience” for him to undergo such a lengthy injury recovery process.
“I think my first and second years were definitely two good years,” Bush said in December. “My third year was a year I’ve never experienced before, especially coming back from an injury like that. It was my first time going through an injury like that. It was my first time getting surgery. It was my first time going to rehab, and my first time being away from the game for a full year. It was a learning experience.”
As it stands, there is a possibility that the upcoming 2022 season could be Bush’s final one in Pittsburgh. Bush has a fifth-year option for the 2023 season, and the Steelers have until the first week of May to trigger it. Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert noted in late February that the team will explore all scenarios on whether to opt into the option.
For the moment, Bush is currently slated to tag along with free agent signing Myles Jack at middle linebacker in the 2022 campaign. Overall, Tomlin is looking forward to seeing what Jack will bring to the team on the defensive side of the ball, as he also noted on Sunday that he was pleased to see the “level of excitement he [Jack] had” in joining the AFC North powerhouse.
Potent campaigns from both Bush and Jack sure could go a long way for the Steelers rush defense in the upcoming season.
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