The Pittsburgh Steelers have activated large receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster off injured reserve forward of their playoff showdown with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Smith-Schuster has not performed since Week 5, when he suffered what was thought to have been a season-ending shoulder harm in opposition to the Denver Broncos.
After recovering from surgical procedure, he’s anticipated to play at the least some half in opposition to the Chiefs within the Wild Card spherical sport on Sunday after practising on Thursday and Friday.
“God answered my prayers and I’ve recovered from my season-ending shoulder harm sooner than anticipated,” Smith-Schuster wrote on Twitter.
“I can’t consider I get one other likelihood to take the sector with this workforce and play in a playoff sport to maintain our season alive.”
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 16, 2022
Kansas Metropolis beat Pittsburgh at house in Week 16, 36-10, their largest win over the Steelers in 36 all-time conferences.
The Steelers go in as heavy underdogs in opposition to the Chiefs, although they obtained an extra increase when working again Najee Harris was faraway from the harm report after recovering from an elbow harm.
This could possibly be Smith-Schuster’s final sport with the Steelers given he is because of enter free company after the season, whereas eyes are additionally on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who is anticipated to retire after the playoffs.
“He had a fairly important harm,” Roethlisberger informed 102.5 WDVE this week concerning the receiver’s potential return.
“The way in which JuJu performs the sport is bodily. Everyone knows it. All of us find it irresistible. He might increase this offense. Even when it’s only a few performs, the vitality, the encouragement he brings on the sideline.
“Something like that, to have certainly one of your guys on the market could be large for us.”
Roethlisberger has thrown for 970 yards in his final two postseason video games, each losses. That’s the most passing yards by any participant in a span of two playoff video games.
The veteran will face off in opposition to Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
Chiefs QB Mahomes has thrown for 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in his two Tremendous Bowl appearances, however in his six different playoff video games, he has thrown 15 landing passes and no picks.
Per Stats Carry out information, Mahomes is simply the second participant ever (after Drew Brees) with 17+ passing touchdowns and not more than 4 interceptions in his first eight playoff begins.