Steelers’ LB Sean Spence to begin practicing
By Matt Shetler
There aren’t many positive stories surrounding the 0-4 Pittsburgh Steelers right now, but linebacker Sean Spence is certainly one of them.
Former Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson guard once asked why we were talking abut practice? I’m sure if you ask Spence, practice is all he wants to talk about.
Spence, last year’s third-round pick out of the University of Miami, suffered a horrific knee injury during the 2012 preseason that looked like it could possibly end his career before it ever began.
July 28, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Sean Spence (51) jogs across the field during training camp at Saint Vincent College. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
But the Steelers and Spence got some good news on Saturday as the 23-year olds hard work to recovery appears ready to pay off.
According to the Tribune Review’s Mark Kaboly, Spence will practice Wednesday for the first time since suffering a left knee injury during last year’s final preseason game.
Many people have doubted if Spence would ever set foot on a football field again. Steelers linebacker coach Keith Butler said in April that “it will be miraculous if (Spence) does come back (this year). It will be miraculous if he comes back next year.”
Instead, after 14 months of rehab, Spence will make it back this season.
That doesn’t mean he will be able to help the team this season, but it is still good news nonetheless.
He was drafted in the third-round last year to potentially be the long-term replacement for departed linebacker James Farrior, but once he tore the anterior cruciate, posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee and suffered a dislocated knee cap that caused nerve damage, the odds weren’t that good of that ever happening.
However the Steelers will have to make a quick decision on Spence as he doesn’t have much time to impress the coaching staff.
The Steelers have a three-week span to decide whether to add him to the 53-man roster or place him on the season-ending injured reserve list once they activate him from the PUP list.
With Larry Foote lost for the season, the Steelers will start rookie sixth-round pick Vince Williams but would certainly welcome Spence into the mix if he can prove he is able to contribute..