Damontae Kazee practiced with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, starting the clock on a 21-day window in which the veteran safety must be activated to the 53-man roster.

Kazee opened the season on injured reserve because of a wrist injury suffered during the preseason finale. He was on track to begin the season as the Steelers’ No. 3 safety, a role that comes with likely significant usage in subpackages. A six-year veteran who has started 49 NFL games, Kazee also figures to be the top backup for both free safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and strong safety Terrell Edmunds.

Signed to a one-year, $1.19 million contract in May, Kazee said Wednesday that he previously knew he would serve a three-game suspension this season for violating the NFL policy on substances of abuse. Kazee served that suspension while on IR.

The Steelers played last week’s game without four of their top five defensive backs because of injury, though it’s possible all return for Sunday’s scheduled game against the Miami Dolphins.

Kazee has 12 career interceptions, including two for the Dallas Cowboys last season and a league-high seven for the Atlanta Falcons during his second NFL season in 2018.

“I have been running, lifting weights, everything,” Kazee said Wednesday, “just trying to stay ahead of myself until my name gets called.”

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