Mid-week news and notes
Martavis Bryant sat out today’s practice but said he plans on being back at practice Thursday.
The Steelers don’t have to put out an official injury report until Thursday, but suffice it to say, they appear to be very healthy heading into Monday night’s game at San Diego.
* Antonio Brown said on his weekly radio show Tuesday night – of which I am a co-host – that he did have more issues than he thought he would catching passes with a left-handed spin from Mike Vick.
He also said some of Vick’s balls cut through the air a little differently than those thrown by Ben Roethlisberger, forcing him to make other adjustments.
Brown spent plenty of time after practice Wednesday working on catching balls with a left-handed spin – including extra time with Vick – and he should have that rectified Monday.
Brown did, however, say that he was at fault for two of the incompletions – one in the end zone and another along the sideline – and that it’s his job to catch the passes no matter who is throwing them.
* The Steelers will have to make a roster move to activate Bryant to their 53-man roster by Monday.
There aren’t a lot of candidates.
Anthony Chickillo was signed to the active list but now must spend at least three weeks on the active roster.
Tight end Jesse James, running back Dri Archer and fullback Roosevelt Nix would be the most likely candidates to go, All would be eligible to be placed on the practice squad.
It’s unlikely that James would make it that far, though you never know at this time of year as teams play roster games to account for injuries.
There’s also always the off chance they let an offensive lineman go – say Doug Legursky – and kick the can down the street a couple of weeks.
Mike Adams will be eligible to come off the PUP list after six games and the Steelers will have to make a decision at that time with their line. They could go for the next couple of games with seven active linemen and hope they avoid injuries.
If they don’t, they can always sign Legursky – or another lineman – to fill in the back end of the roster.