Brooke Pryor
PITTSBURGH — Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson “in all probability” is not going to be returning kickoffs in Week 3 after his particular groups gaffe in Sunday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, coach Mike Tomlin stated Tuesday.
Apparently believing the play could be known as useless, Johnson allowed the kickoff from Jason Myers to bounce over his head and into the top zone within the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, in response to the NFL's new kickoff guidelines, any ball that lands between the objective line and the 20-yard line and goes into the top zone should be returned or downed by the receiving staff. In any other case, it is a reside ball.
Seahawks backup George Holani recovered the ball close to the again of the top zone for a landing.
“Most likely not within the short-term,” Tomlin stated in his weekly information convention when requested if Johnson would proceed returning kickoffs. “I am actually going to offer [Johnson] a possibility to work his means again from that. I consider in his expertise. He is a pointy younger man. He is a tough employee, and so you permit the sunshine on for him. You give him a possibility to maneuver on from it, however he has to try this.
“He has to show that together with his every day work, and he will earn himself again within the place to be a participant. And so we'll see the place the rows lead us. I am open to it, actually.”
Whereas operating again Kenneth Gainwell is the Steelers' different return man, Tomlin stated he hasn't selected potential replacements for Johnson. Through the preseason, the Steelers additionally used operating again Trey Sermon, now on the observe squad, as a kick returner. Second-year receiver Roman Wilson has some expertise after returning a handful of kicks at Michigan.
After the sport, Johnson expressed regret for the fielding error.
“I simply made a mistake,” stated Johnson. “Obtained to stay to it, transfer on, and simply proceed to get higher every single day.”
The Steelers have not practiced since Sunday's loss, however Tomlin stated he seems to be ahead to seeing Johnson's response and development from the incident.
“You have to man up, you bought to acknowledge your shortcomings, and then you definitely started working to maneuver past it,” stated Tomlin. “And it is my job as a pacesetter to supply that chance.
“… Neglect what you say, it is about how you progress ahead when it comes to your work, the extent of element and the consistency of it. And so, we actually will probably be watching that intently as we push into this week.”
The Steelers even be with out a number of defensive gamers as a consequence of harm. Each edge rusher Alex Highsmith and defensive lineman Isaiahh Loudermilk have been dominated out for Sunday's sport towards the New England Patriots with ankle sprains, with Loudermilk anticipated to overlook a number of weeks. The provision of Derrick Harmon (MCL sprain), DeShon Elliott (knee) and Joey Porter Jr. (hamstring) are thought of “questionable, at finest,” stated Tomlin.
Inside linebacker Patrick Queen (indirect) and cornerback Darius Slay (shoulder) have been each banged up towards the Seahawks, however Tomlin was optimistic about their availability for Sunday.
Due to these accidents, the Steelers' schematics have been restricted and contributed to Seattle placing up 395 yards of offense.
“Our protection wore down some, notably as the sport went on,” stated Tomlin. “… Our strains acquired slightly skinny at numerous factors within the sport. I assumed we felt the results of that.
“Actually we have been considerably restricted with a number of the schematics that we want to deploy, as a result of we had some new folks in there and we're comparatively new to this season. We weren't nearly as good as I might like for us to be when it comes to our midstream adjusting, when it comes to a few of these issues.”
