Another Pittsburgh Steelers player seems to be nearing a return off the IR. Rookie defensive lineman, DeMarvin Leal got hurt in Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills. He injured his knee, forcing him to land on the IR. More specifically, Leal had to undergo meniscus surgery, an injury that takes some time to fully recover from.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Before the injury, the rookie was really starting to find his footing in his first professional season. Selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Leal was beginning to see the field more and more. In that Week 5 loss to the Bills, he played 41.1% of the team's defensive snaps, a career-high for him. Head coach Mike Tomlin even praised him, saying the team had no choice but to continue to reward him with more opportunities.
Now, he has returned to practice according to the Steelers’ official website. If you’re still not familiar with the IR, Leal returning to practice doesn’t mean he’ll play this weekend against the Cincinnati Bengals. It simply means the team now has 21 days to activate their rookie lineman off the IR. If they don’t do so by then, he won’t be able to return this season. Of course, we’ve seen this happen, as setbacks can unexpectedly occur in that time frame.
Rookie wide receiver, Calvin Austin III re-injured his foot after returning to practice in October, ending his season. Recently, safety Damontae Kazee and edge rusher TJ Watt were activated off IR after the team’s bye week, helping the black and gold get their third win of the season. Those two provided a much-needed spark, and Leal may be able to do the same upon his return.
While Cam Heyward and Larry Ogunjobi are playing good football on the Steelers defensive line, it doesn’t hurt to have another healthy option. Tyson Alualu has shown his age this season, as Tomlin opted to relegate the veteran to the bench in favor of Montravius Adams. The line as a whole has shifted a ton throughout the season, as defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has rotated guys in and out.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Now, the team will be able to continue to see Leal's progression. With guys like Heyward getting older on the defensive front, Leal may be seen as a huge part of the Steelers future. While he's unlikely to come back this weekend, perhaps a return in Week 12 on Monday Night Football could be in the range of possible outcomes for Leal.
How big of an impact would Leal's return have? Do you think he can be a building block for this team's future? What are your expectations for this defense with everyone (knock on wood) getting healthy? Share your thoughts in the comment section below on this positive news on Leal!
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