Tuesday was the first day that teams could make use of the rule allowing one player a year to return from injured reserve and the Steelers availed themselves of that option.
Tight end Matt Spaeth is the player who will hope to take advantage of being allowed to return to games after at least eight weeks on the sideline. He is eligible to start practicing in six weeks after having surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury in his foot.
With Spaeth out for at least two months and Heath Miller unsure of when he’ll be able to play after coming off the PUP list as cuts were made, the Steelers will be using what coach Mike Tomlin called a “committee-oriented group” to fill the position to start the season. That committee will include David Johnson, David Paulson and Michael Palmer, but Tomlin suggested the group will be even larger by saying reserve tackle Kelvin Beachum will also be in the mix for snaps.
Spaeth spent the first four years of his career with the Steelers and returned to the fold this season after two years in Chicago. Linebacker Terence Garvin was elevated after a short stay on the practice squad to replace Spaeth on the 53-man roster.