PITTSBURGH — Defensive tackle Montravius Adams has returned to practice for the Pittsburgh Steelers, opening his 21-day practice window while remaining on the injured reserve list, the team announced on Wednesday.
Adams suffered an injury during practice back in October, and tried to play through it, but lasted just one snap against the New York Jets in Week 7. Adams was placed on the injured reserve list, forcing him to miss at least the next four games. This is the first week he is eligible to return.
Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that there is a chance that Adams will be able to return to action this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“We’ve got some other guys who are working their way back to us, like Cory Trice and Mont Adams, who may have an opportunity this week, as well,” Tomlin said. “Again, we’ll leave the door drawn for those guys. There’s strength in numbers, and obviously we need all the expertise that we can get as the road gets narrow and this competition gets thick as we move into December.
Adams has been a key member of the Steelers defensive line for four years now. He has played between 1/4 and 1/2 of the team’s defensive snaps in that timeframe, serving as both a starting and backup nose tackle and a rotational three-technique pass rusher in sub packages.
He had 26 tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass defended in his first full season in Pittsburgh in 2022 and followed that up with 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, one pass defended and one forced fumble last season.
In this year’s season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, Adams recorded his first sack as a member of the Steelers and his first since 2018. In seven games this year, he has eight tackles, one for a loss, one sack and one quarterback hit.
Since Adams has been out, the Steelers have been playing a man short on the defensive line, with only five on the 53-man roster. Dean Lowry, who had been inactive in the first few games of the season, has been dressed in Adams’ slot.
The Steelers have already used four of their eight regular-season slots for players to return from the injured reserve list. Offensive tackle Dylan Cook, outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon, wide receiver Ben Skowronek and linebacker Tyler Matakevich have already returned. Cornerback Cory Trice has also returned to practice and is working through his 21-day window.
The only other players on the injured reserve list with non-season ending injuries that could return are wide receiver Roman Wilson (hamstring), defensive end Logan Lee (calf) and tackle Troy Fautanu (knee surgery). Fautanu is expected to miss the rest of the regular season, at least. Teams get two additional IR-return slots for the postseason.
STEELERS INJURED RESERVE
| Player | Injury | Date | Prognosis | Roster Status |
| CB Zyon Gilbert | Knee | Nov. 16 | TBD | Practice squad IR |
| CB C.J. Henderson | Neck | Nov. 14 | Three weeks | Injured reserve |
| DT Montravius Adams | Left knee | Oct. 18 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
| CB Anthony Averett | TBD | Oct. 17 | TBD | Practice squad IR |
| WR Roman Wilson | Hamstring | Oct. 17 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
| DE DeMarvin Leal | Neck/stinger | Oct. 6 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| RG James Daniels | Achilles | Sept. 29 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| RT Troy Fautanu | R knee dislocation | Sept. 20 | Regular season | Injured reserve |
| P Cameron Johnston | Right knee | Sept. 8 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| SS Ryan Watts | Neck/stinger | Aug. 24 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| DL Logan Lee | Calf | Aug. 20 | Week to week | Injured reserve |
| C Nate Herbig | Torn rotator cuff | Aug. 14 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| OLB David Perales | Left MCL tear | July 31 | Out for season | Injured reserve |
| ILB Cole Holcomb | Left knee surgery | Nov. 2, 2023 | Week to week | PUP/reserve |