The Steelers didn’t leave tight end Heath Miller on the PUP list to start the regular season, which indicates that they fell fairly confident that he will be able to fully participate in practice and/or play in games before the first six weeks of the season have elapsed.
It’s probably not going to be in time for the first game of the season, however. Miller said Monday that he’s getting “closer and closer” to rejoining his teammates a little more than eight months after tearing his ACL but that’s about as specific as he can get in terms of when he’ll be ready for a full workload.
“I know Coach is going to keep everybody up to date as the week goes along, but I’m still keeping the same mindset, trying to make improvements every day so when the time comes I’m fully ready to go,” Miller said, via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Miller became a vital part of the Steelers offense pretty much immediately after his arrival in Pittsburgh and his role hasn’t gone down a bit as the years have flown by. He figures to continue in that role once more this season as soon as his knee allows him to get the green light.