The Pittsburgh Steelers brought cornerback Cory Trice Jr. back from the injured reserve list on Thursday, and they could get another back soon as defensive tackle Montravius Adams was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.
How many more injured reserve return slots do the Steelers have to use?
Right now, they’ve used five and have three to go. The Steelers have already brought Dylan Cook, Jeremiah Moon, Tyler Matakevich, Ben Skowronek and Trice back from the practice squad. Even though Cook is no longer on the team’s 53-man roster, he still counts as one of the IR returns.
Cook and Moon counted when they were put on the IR, before the final cuts to 53 players in August. The other three did not count until they were officially reinstated.
Defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who has opened his 21-day practice window but remains on the injured reserve list, could be the sixth if the Steelers activate him before Dec. 18. Otherwise, he’ll stay on the IR for the rest of the season. He was a full participant at practice on Thursday.
The Steelers could look to return defensive tackle Logan Lee, wide receiver Roman Wilson, cornerback C.J. Henderson or tackle Troy Fautanu at some point this season, but they only have three remaining slots through the end of the regular season.
The Steelers could also choose to use a return slot on a practice squad player. Cornerbacks Anthony Averett and Zyon Gilbert are both on the practice squad injured list.
The rest of the players on the injured reserve list either must stay there for the remainder of the season by rule because they were placed on IR before roster cuts (OLB David Perales, C/G Nate Herbig, SS Ryan Watts), or their injuries are expected to be season ending (P Cameron Johnston, OG James Daniels, DE DeMarvin Leal).
If the Steelers make it to the playoffs, they will get two more return slots, for a total of 10. Fautanu, the team’s first-round draft pick, is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with his knee injury, but could return for the postseason.
STEELERS INJURED RESERVE TRACKER
OLB David Perales, on IR Aug. 2, ineligible to returnOLB Jeremiah Moon, on IR Aug. 27, returned Oct. 5 (1)
OT Dylan Cook, on IR Aug. 27, returned Oct. 30 (2)
SS Ryan Watts, on IR Aug. 27, ineligible to return
DT Logan Lee, on IR Sept. 7, eligible to returnP Cameron Johnston, on IR Sept. 10, out for season
ILB Tyler Matakevich, on IR Sept. 17, returned Nov. 9 (3)
WR Ben Skowronek, on IR Sept. 18, returned Nov. 9 (4)
OT Troy Fautanu, on IR Sept. 21, eligible to return
CB Cory Trice Jr., on IR Sept. 24, returned Dec. 5 (5)
OG James Daniels, on IR Oct. 1, out for season
DE DeMarvin Leal, on IR Oct. 12, out for season
CB Anthony Averett, on PS IR Oct. 18, eligible to return
DT Montravius Adams, on IR Oct. 22, eligible to return
WR Roman Wilson, on IR Oct. 28, eligible to return
CB Zyon Gilbert, on PS IR Nov. 16, eligible to return Week 15
CB C.J. Henderson, on IR Nov. 16, eligible to return Week 15