Even though the Pittsburgh Steelers are on their bye this week, an important decision needs to be made with one of their players who is currently on the Reserve/PUP list by the start of Week 12.
According to NFL rules, tackle Mike Adams has to start practicing with the team by next Tuesday evening if he expects to play at all this season.
Adams, who was placed on the team’s PUP list at the start of training camp after having back surgery in late July, is currently in the final year of his rookie contract. The former second-round draft pick has started 20 regular-season games during his NFL career.
Should Adams be unable to resume practicing at the start of next week, the team will need to place him on their Reserve/Injured list or release him outright. If, however, Adams is allowed to resume practicing on Tuesday, the Steelers will then have another 21 days in which to decide whether or not he can be reinstated to their 53-man roster, placed on Reserve/Injured, or released.
Over the course of the last several weeks, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has refused to provide any updates or timetables on potential returns to the 53-man roster of Adams and center Maurkice Pouncey, who has been on the team’s Reserve/Injured list with the designated to return tag since Week 1 of the season with an ankle injury that he sustained during the preseason.
Pouncey has been eligible to return for several weeks now, but doesn’t appear to be close to doing so after needing a second surgery on his ankle almost a full month ago.
Tomlin won’t meet with the media again until next Tuesday, but when he does, expect him to be asked once again to update the statuses of both Adams and Pouncey.
