Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports Monday that Emmanuel Sanders said that Mike Wallace will start the opener Sunday night in Denver. Sanders, who had been working in the “X” receiver spot while Wallace was away because of his decision not to sign his restricted tender offer until last week, will now likely return to his slot position as the team\’s number three wide receiver.
Wallace told Bouchette on Monday that he didn\’t think that they would limit the plays he must know this week heading into the opener and that he doesn\’t think they should have to either. He also told Bouchette that he got good work in on Friday and Saturday with wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery, which game him a good jump on things.
Wallace also stated via Bouchette after his first practice back on Monday that he thinks the arm of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is stronger than where it left off last year and that the quarterback throws much better than Tom Shaw, who Wallace trained with down in Florida prior to reporting last week and signing his restricted tender.
As far as Sanders goes, Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports Monday that new depth chart shows rookie running back Chris Rainey listed as the first team punt and kick returner over Sanders. Sanders entered the offseason being told he would return punts and kicks this season, but that was before Rainey was drafted this past April.
