Now that we know that Pittsburgh Steelers second-year linebacker Sean Spence will come off the PUP list next week and resume practicing, the only thing that remains is him proving to the coaches that he is ready to play. According to Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, however, it seems unlikely that the Miami product will be ready to play a week from Sunday when the Steelers host the Baltimore Ravens.
“Just trying to get back used to the contact,” Spence said. “I’ll probably start off with individual, you know, ease me into it, and as the weeks go, by depending on how my progress, we will go from there.”
Spence easing back into action is not surprising and the Steelers will have three weeks before they will need to place him on the active roster or end his season by placing him on injured reserve. Knowing that he’s ready to start practicing immediately after the mandatory six weeks missed time period, however, is certainly a great sign.
Spence also told Kaboly that the doctors have told him that he’s already beaten the odds after suffering damage to his peroneal nerve in his left knee and judging by the sound of things, he’s apparently not suffering from drop foot, either. Kaboly reported on Twitter Friday evening that the Steelers 2012 third-round draft pick was flexing his left foot and pointing it toward him during the interview and Spence said it’s just a habit that he’s developed.
Despite not being able to practice since suffering the injury in the 2012 preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, Spence has been in tune with the defense and attending every meeting. Whenever he’s deemed roster ready, you can be sure he’ll be mental ready as well. How can he not be? What he’s been through already shows how mentally strong he is.
