Injured Steelers DB Out of Walking Boot
Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee is out of his walking boot just days after injuring his left ankle in practice on Saturday.
Kazee was seen walking the St. Vincent College campus without the protective apparatus, but it’s not clear when he will return to practice.
The Steelers projected starting strong safety, Kazee was injured on Saturday when he slid awkwardly after intercepting a Kenny Pickett pass on a wet playing surface on Saturday. He did not participate in practice on Sunday, and the team was off on Monday.
Kazee and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin both said they did not expect the injury to be significant enough to impact Kazee’s availability for the regular season, but him already being able to put weight on it might have Kazee returning earlier than expected.
“I don’t have a sense that it’s serious,” Kazee said Sunday. “Just taking it week-by-week, and making sure I’m out there and ready to go in Week 1.”
Kazee called himself week-to-week. The Steelers open the preseason in 10 days at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 11. (Full 2023 Steelers schedule). The Steelers will likely be cautious with Kazee’s return. The safety suffered a broken arm in the 2022 preseason finale, causing him to miss the first eight weeks of the season.
He returned to finish strong, recording two interceptions, two passes defended and 20 tackles in nine games in his first season with the Steelers.
Kazee is expected to be the Steelers’ starting strong safety, alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick in the secondary. Veteran free agent addition Keanu Neal is the team’s other experienced strong safety. Tre Norwood and Elijah Riley have primarily played free safety and slot corner, and Miles Killebrew has played almost exclusively special teams.
Other than Kazee, and rookie running back Alfonzo Graham, who said he is out for the season with a shoulder injury the Steelers are healthy entering the second week of training camp at St. Vincent College, with the first practice in pads scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
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