The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau had some encouraging words on Tuesday about outside linebacker Jason Worilds.
“I thought he played well, said LeBeau, when asked about the play of Worilds against the Eagles. Jason played pretty good last year and he grew tremendously but you know he missed so much football with that injury, and that’s nobody’s fault that just the way it is. I though that he looked closer to what he was last year, last week. And again there\’s some of those young guys we’re looking to continue to grow and really contribute. I thought Jason played a good football game last week.”
Worilds, who has battled several injuries since the Steelers drafted him in the second round of the 2010 draft, will likely make his 8th career start Thursday night against the Tennessee Titans as starter LaMarr Woodley is certain to miss the game with a mild hamstring strain suffered Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Virginia Tech product missed the entire offseason program, in addition to the preseason, as he recovered from offseason wrist surgery, but he has dressed and played in the Steelers first four games this season.
In those four games Worilds has logged 115 snaps and has combined to make 10 tackles to go along with 2 sacks. He also has been credited with 1 pass defensed as well.
The Steelers defense has done a great job over the years at bottling up Titans running back Chris Johnson, who is struggling so far this season. Worilds will be relied upon heavily to contain the left outside edge against the speedy running back and hopefully LeBeau has more reason to praise him next week.
