Devin Bush, Zach Banner taking different paths toward returning to Steelers lineup

The second Pittsburgh Steelers starter to tear an ACL last season will be the first to return to a preseason game this year.

Coach Mike Tomlin said over the weekend that inside linebacker Devin Bush will make his preseason debut Thursday at Philadelphia, and the former first-round pick acknowledged Monday that it’s time to get into a game.

“I feel good. I’m ready,” Bush said after practice. “I’ve been ready for a while now (physically), but mentally, I think I’m ready.”

Bush sustained his ACL tear in Week 6 against Cleveland. He is a touch further ahead in his recovery than right tackle Zach Banner, who was injured late in the season opener at the New York Giants.

Bush has recovered at a quicker pace, and he has done team activities since early in training camp. The Steelers have eased Banner into team drills, and he accelerated his activity Saturday and again Monday.

“He’s a hard worker and competitor,” Banner said about Bush. “He had a little bit of a head start the first week or two. I wasn’t doing as many reps as him. That’s part of it. Two different bodies, similar injuries. I can only compliment him and his hard work coming back.”

Ask Banner about his timetable for getting into a game and he matter-of-factly said he’s not looking that far ahead. It has led to some frustrating moments for Banner, who wants to do more but is abiding to the wishes of the training staff.

“We have to make it a day-by-day thing,” he said. “If I think about Philly, if I think about Detroit, if I think about the Panthers, if I think about Buffalo (in the season opener), I’m hurting my team,” he said. “I have to think about practice today. That is what (ticks) me off.”

Banner isn’t even willing to venture what the next milestone in his return to play entails.

“My next step is to rehab today, ice, stretch, take care of my body, have a solid dinner and show up tomorrow,” he said.

Banner’s return would bode well for an offense line that hasn’t had the projected five starters take a snap in practice together. Left guard Kevin Dotson was the latest missing piece to return, but he has spent the past two practices working with the second team. The first team Monday consisted of Banner and left tackle Chuks Okorafor, center Kendrick Green and guards Rashaad Coward and Trai Turner. Okorafor also dealt with an injury in camp, but is expected to make his preseason debut against the Eagles.

“All I know is the other two guys have the mentality that I do,” Banner said, referring to Dotson and Okorafor. “I can’t speak bad of my brothers. None of us enjoys being hurt. All of us enjoy working hard, and all of us get (ticked) off rather than accept what is happening.”

Although it would benefit the Steelers to get their projected five starters playing time together so cohesion can be built with the regular season just a month away, Tomlin isn’t about to rush Banner into a game setting before his knee is ready.

“The process has been a good one,” Tomlin said. “He’s worked his tail off. In terms of (if he’s) close to 100%, we’ll continue to watch him and monitor him and thoughtfully infuse him into this, and we’ll see where it leads us.”

The Steelers also have been mindful about regulating Bush’s workouts since camp opened two weeks ago. Like Banner, Bush is getting adjusted to working with a new starter at his position. Robert Spillane will start alongside Bush this year after replacing him at inside linebacker last season.

“I think it’s more about being smart right now,” Bush said. “We’ve just got a long way (until) the season, and we’ve got a long season coming up. I think it’s not putting too much on me early when we’ve got a long season ahead of us.”