Pittsburgh Steelers: Don’t count out Stephon Tuitt vs. Vikings

From speculation that he could miss the rest of the season to stating he was week-to-week, Stephon Tuitt could play for the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers got off to a good start on Sunday. Then held on for a 21-18 win over the Cleveland Browns. While a victory over a team that finished 1-15 a year ago is hardly reason for confetti, it was a road triumph over a divisional foe.

But all the news was not good coming out of Cleveland for Mike Tomlin’s squad. Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt, who just inked a new five-year, $60 million contract, suffered a biceps injury on Sunday afternoon. The assumption was that this would sideline the emerging performer for perhaps the season.

Until Tuesday:

As it turned out, there was no biceps tear. And that means no season-ending surgery for the former Golden Domer. So does that mean Tuitt will be on the field when Dalvin Cook and the Minnesota Vikings come to town on Sunday?

Here’s what Tuitt had to say in an interview about the injury, via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

"“We’re going to see throughout the week,” Tuitt said Tuesday night on his weekly radio show on WDVE-FM 102.5. “If I get enough strength in my arm to push back and defend myself, I’ll be ready to get back out there with the pads on. If not I’ll cheer my teammates on.”"

One of the reasons that some like the Pittsburgh Steelers to do some big things this season is their defensive front. Along with Tuitt, the line includes nose tackle Javon Hargrave and ends Cameron Heyward and Tyson Alualu. The latter joined the team via free agency this offseason. He racked up five tackles on Sunday against the Browns.

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Both Hargrave and Heyward each had one sack in the game as well. But it’s those five stops by Alualu that tells you that the team has no reason to rush back Tuitt — although the defense is much better with him on the field.