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Motivated Dwyer back with Steelers

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PITTSBURGH – Returning to a team that released him in the final roster cutdown was no problem for Jonathan Dwyer.

Dwyer said Wednesday that he welcomed his return to the Steelers, even if he was initially upset following his release Aug. 31 as the team trimmed its roster to 53 players.

“There’s a chip on my shoulder in general, yes,” Dwyer said. “But bitterness with the organization? No. I feel like they saw something. It’s my motivation now.”

Dwyer, who had tryouts with New England and the Giants in the week that he was away from the Steelers, was re-signed after LaRod Stephens-Howling was lost for the season to a torn knee ligament suffered in the Steelers’ 16-9 loss Sunday to Tennessee.

Dwyer is listed as third string on the Steelers’ depth chart behind Issac Redman and Felix Jones but could get playing time when Pittsburgh (0-1) plays at Cincinnati (0-1) Monday.

“I just know that I’d better be ready to play,” said Dwyer. “That’s the only thing I was told.”

The last time Dwyer was in Cincinnati, he had the best game of his four-year NFL career, gaining 122 yards on 17 carries. It was a game in which Rashard Mendenhall and Redman each were out with injuries. Pittsburgh won the game, 24-17.

Dwyer followed that up with a 17-carry, 107-yard performance in a win at home over Washington, but failed to gain more than 56 yards in a game over the remainder of the season as he finished with a team-best 623 yards.

It was the fewest yards by a Pittsburgh rushing leader since 1991. Though the Steelers drafted running back Le’Veon Bell in the second round of this year’s draft, Dwyer was surprised to be released at the end of the preseason.

“You could say that,” Dwyer said. “To me, it was to understand the business aspect of this game and learn that every time you get out there, you’ve got to do something. Don’t go out there and try to do something spectacular. Just get out there and try to show consistency. If I do that, I’ll be OK.”

For their part, the Steelers felt fortunate that Dwyer was still unsigned when they needed him.

Bell remains out with a mid-foot sprain, while Stephens-Howling, who signed as a free agent from Arizona in the offseason, lasted only six carries in the opener.

“We kept the guys that we kept because of the things they did, not because of the things Jonathan didn’t do,” said head coach Mike Tomlin. “We were encouraged by the versatility of LaRod Stephens-Howling and what he’s able to do in spread packages and in the passing game. Obviously, he got hurt. That presented an opportunity to bring what we believe is a capable NFL player back. Thankfully, for us, no one acquired him.”

Establishing a running game is critical for the Steelers, who gained only 32 yards on 15 carries in the opener.

Pittsburgh wants to run the ball more effectively to take pressure off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was sacked five times in by Tennessee.

The Steelers worked hard in the preseason on developing its rushing attack after averaging only 96 yards per game last year.

“I think a consistent running game is really important, not only to be good offensively, but to strike a balance,” Tomlin said. “We haven’t been able to do that to this point. Obviously, we are working hard to do so.”

Dwyer admits he didn’t always take advantage of his opportunities. Bing released was a wake-up call.

“I can just go out and run and try to be hungrier than I was,” Dwyer said.

Roethlisberger missed the first portion of practice Wednesday for personal reasons but returned for the second half. … Tight end Heath Miller, who is close to returning from a torn ACL, said he was able to do “a little of everything,” in practice Wednesday.

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