Explosive Steelers DL Nearing Return

PITTSBURGH — Steelers defensive lineman Montravius Adams could return soon, as he took the field and participated in some light drills on Friday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. Adams suffered an ankle injury against the Tennessee Titans and missed the team’s game against the Green Bay Packers. He missed the last two days of practice leading up to this, meaning his participation against the Browns is in doubt.

This season, Adams has become one of the team’s success stories. He started the year over Keeanu Benton. And while Benton is almost breaking out in his rookie season, Adams put up good stats before he suffered the ankle injury. When he returns, Pittsburgh’s defensive line should come together to create a solid rotation that produces at a high level.

NFL.com named Adams as one of the best nose tackle in the NFL this season before he suffered an ankle injury in his eighth start of the season.

Adams came in as the seventh-best nose tackle in the entire NFL, an impressive number for someone who could have his stats suppressed by his role.

“Adams’ run-stop and stuff metrics don’t really pop — unless he’s aligned specifically as a nose tackle,” they wrote. “The 6-foot-4 tackle leads all players in run stuffs (7) and run-stuff rate (8.8%, min 100 defensive snaps) from a nose tackle alignment this season. In fact, Adams accounts for three of the 18 games this season in which a player aligned as a nose tackle has recorded multiple run stuffs.”

The Steelers like Adams. His natural explosiveness and motor pop off the screen on tape. Pittsburgh has a type at nose tackle nowadays, and Adams has been fine previously, but this year is making a much more significant impact in that lane. When he comes back, he should still have a healthy role as a meaningful contributor.