Nov 20, 2013 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Jason Worilds has been around long enough to know that he and Sean Lee will be forever linked in the minds of Steelers fans.

Worilds, an outside linebacker, was selected by the Steelers with the 52nd pick in the 2010 NFL draft, three spots before Dallas selected Lee, an Upper St. Clair native and former Penn State linebacker. The comparisons began almost immediately in Pittsburgh, and heated up considerably when Lee intercepted a pair of Peyton Manning passes in his rookie season, returning one for a touchdown and another to set up a game-winning field goal in overtime.

It didn’t help that, over the next two seasons, Lee was starting for the Cowboys while Worilds languished on Pittsburgh’s bench, stuck behind Pro Bowl linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.

Worilds made 10 starts in place of Harrison and Woodley in three seasons, recording 65 tackles and 10 sacks in limited playing time. But he wasn’t Lee, who had 195 tackles and seven interceptions for Dallas.

It all hit home for Worilds when he met Lee’s father, Craig, a couple of years ago and the elder Lee broached the subject.

“That’s when it actually clicked for me. We had a brief conversation,” said Worilds, who is only 25 years old. “Not to undermine anybody, but it’s foolish. Sean Lee plays inside linebacker. Sean Lee didn’t have to play behind any Pro Bowlers. “

Woirlds is finally getting his opportunity to play on a full-time basis for the Steelers (4-6), and he’s not concerned about those comparisons any longer. He’s only thinking about how to help Pittsburgh get another win this weekend in Cleveland (4-6).

Worilds opened the season as the Steelers’ starter at right outside linebacker in place of Harrison, who was released in the offseason. But rookie Jarvis Jones started the next four games, rotating play with Worilds.

Jones missed the Steelers’ Oct. 20 win over Baltimore with a concussion, and Worilds has been back in the starting lineup ever since. All he’s done in the five games is record 18 tackles, three sacks and 10 quarterback pressures, matching defensive end Brett Keisel for the most on the team over that period.

His best game came Sunday in Pittsburgh’s 37-27 win over Detroit, when Worilds, starting at left outside linebacker in place of injured Woodley, had seven tackles, a sack and a team-high four quarterback pressures.

“He’s had a few ups and downs, but that didn’t stop his game. He continued to go out and play well,” said Woodley, who expects to return Sunday. “He’s been doing that each and every week.”

Worilds will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and it was considered a no-brainer that, with the selection of Jones, he was playing his final season for the Steelers. Now, that could change. Worilds has become such an integral part of the Steelers’ defense that coordinator Dick LeBeau devised a new scheme that keeps Woodley, Worilds and Jones on the field at the same time rather than substituting Jones for Worilds.

“When you’ve known for a while that you could contribute, it’s a good feeling to know that they’re working on ways to combine us,” Worilds said.

Now that he’s getting consistent playing time, perhaps Worilds can change the minds of some fans who continue to pine away for Lee and what they feel he would be doing for the Steelers.

Worilds isn’t concerned with changing anyone’s opinion.

“It’s good speculation, but it’s not reality,” he said.

Woodley, guard Ramon Foster (ankle), center Fernando Velasco (knee) and linebacker Stevenson Sylvester (hamstring) were limited in practice Wednesday. … Defensive end Brett Keisel (foot) and safety Shamarko Thomas (ankle) did not practice. … Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who left Sunday’s game with a foot injury, was a full participant. … Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his 367-yard, four-touchdown performance against Detroit. It is the ninth time Roethlisberger has won the award.