Days after signing with Steelers, WR Deon Cain takes 1st-team reps, expects role in offense
Deon Cain couldn’t contain his smile. A week earlier, he was on an NFL practice squad, likely pondering what kind of future he had in the NFL. Friday, he was taking first-team reps for a team in a playoff race.
“I’m feeling great, man,” Cain said after Pittsburgh Steelers practice Friday. “It’s a new spot for me. I am feeling good right now, comfortable, and I just want to get out there and play loose.”
Cain confirmed he practiced with the first-team offense alongside fellow wide receivers Diontae Johnson and James Washington and in conjunction with Tevin Jones and Johnny Holton. Cut by the Indianapolis Colts following a loss to the Steelers earlier this month, Cain was called upon by the Steelers after injuries affected receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster, Johnson and Ryan Switzer.
He figures to be at least a moderate part of the game plan during Sunday’s game at the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Most definitely,” said the 6-foot-2, 202-pound Cain, who has run a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. “A lot of guys are down, so they are looking for a lot of playmakers, so I want to go out there and take it play by play — and when I get my chance, just make the best of it.”
A national champion at Clemson, Cain said he took practice reps at all of the wide receiver positions in the Steelers’ offense.
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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