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Steelers

Steelers notebook: Burns to miss 3rd preseason game
Chris Adamski | Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016, 2:48 p.m.
Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Steelers first round pick Artie Burns runs during practice Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.
Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Steelers first round pick Artie Burns watches during practice Monday, Aug. 15, 2016 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.
Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review
Steelers first-round pick Artie Burns runs during practice Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, at St. Vincent in Latrobe.

Steelers fans will have to wait longer for their first in-game look at 2016's first-round pick.

Cornerback Artie Burns told the Tribune-Review on Wednesday he will not play Friday, the third consecutive preseason game he will miss to begin his career.

“I'm not playing this week,” Burns said. “I most definitely will be back next week, though.

“Just taking everything day by day. I've just got to make sure I am ready to be back in game mode, really.”

Burns has missed several practices since suffering a quad injury during the first week of training camp. He did not play in the Steelers' first two preseason games, but coach Mike Tomlin said he practiced Wednesday.

“We got good, significant work from him today at practice,” Tomlin said. “So, hopefully, there is no negative consequences of that work, and he can continue to move forward.”

With Burns and Senquez Golson out, the Steelers have been using a cornerback trio of William Gay and Ross Cockrell on the outside and rookie Sean Davis in the slot.

Burns pledged to be on the field for regular-season opener Sept. 12 at Washington: “I'll most definitely be ready.”

Lewis here but no deal

For the first time since he left the Steelers as a free agent 3 1⁄2 years ago, Keenan Lewis was in the Steelers' locker room Wednesday.

He didn't, however, immediately become a member of the Steelers' roster again.

Lewis, a 30-year-old cornerback who was released by the Saints this week, was brought in for a visit. His body was beat up last season. He had hip surgery and had knee and shoulder injuries.

If cleared to full health — a process that is said to need a few more weeks — Lewis potentially could help a secondary that is thin after the injuries to Golson and Burns.

“If he's healthy and can get out there and help us win games, we would love to welcome him back,” said safety Robert Golden, one of the few holdovers in the secondary since Lewis left. “He's a great guy to have around, brings a lot of energy. If we can come back, we would be happy to have him.

Lewis was not available to the media, and Tomlin said there was no news regarding Lewis.

Tomlin: Bell will play

Tomlin reiterated all healthy players will play Friday, including running back Le'Veon Bell, who spent the offseason rehabbing a surgically-repaired knee and will miss the first three regular-season games because of suspension.

Among those whom Tomlin said “probably won't play” are linebacker Bud Dupree, offensive linemen Cody Wallace and Jerald Hawkins, fullback Roosevelt Nix and reserve quarterback Dustin Vaughan.

Staff writer Rob Rossi contributed to this report. Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.

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