‘I mean, I’m still going to be in the NFL' — Devin Bush unconcerned this might be last year with Steelers

Wearing a winter cap on what was admittedly a cooler-than-usual August afternoon, Devin Bush chewed gum between words as he answered questions after Tuesday’s Pittsburgh Steelers morning walkthrough.

One reporter wanted to know if Bush felt this season — his fourth in the NFL — had a “last-chance” aspect to it for him after the Steelers declined Bush’s 2023 option in May.

“Like, as a Steeler?” Bush asked back.

Yes, Bush was told, his last chance to stay with the Steelers.

“I mean, it’s the business,” Bush said. “I’m gonna still be in the NFL. So, we’ll see.”

Two hours later, Bush was again rotating first-team reps with Robert Spillane, as he has throughout this training camp. On the official depth chart Mike Tomlin released less than two weeks ago, Bush and Spillane had an “OR” between their names for whom was listed as the starter.

That’s not exactly what Bush and the Steelers envisioned when the team made the uncharacteristic move of trading up in the first round of the 2019 draft to select Bush at No. 10 overall.

But if Bush is upset about being forced to compete with Spillane to start next to new acquisition Myles Jack at inside linebacker, he wasn’t showing it when asked Tuesday.

“I think we’re a good rotation,” Bush said, using the same monotoned, gum-chewing cadence he had when asked about his future with the Steelers. “I think we are all three linebackers that could be on the field at one time. So it was no shock to me or anything like that, if that’s what you’re thinking. We’re all competitors, so that’s what we’re going to go.”

What is Bush’s expectation for who plays the Steelers’ snaps at inside linebacker this season?

“Whatever (the coaches) decide.”

Devin Bush on ongoing recovery from ACL and Brian Flores’ impact pic.twitter.com/YqINQzlISQ

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 16, 2022

Now 22 months removed from surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered early in his second NFL season, Bush to some still doesn’t look like the same player he was before the injury.

But Bush said of his rehab and adjustment to a new knee ligament, “that’s behind me now.”

“I think now it’s more getting accustomed to the DC (defensive coordinator Teryl Austin) we got, (and) obviously, (senior defensive assistant/linebackers) Brian Flores is (new with the Steelers) and he’s got some new ideas. So it’s more about adjusting to them and understanding what they want out of me.”

The Steelers haven’t publicly been explicit about what they want out of Bush to re-establish him as an everydown linebacker. But coming off a season in which Pro Football Focus graded him 89th among the 94 inside linebackers who played the most snaps, Bush has at times during this training camp continued to appear to shy away from contact.

Last season, Bush had just two sacks, two tackles for loss, one forced turnover (a fumble) and four QB hits in 14 games.

“As coaches, we all like guys that know their assignments and do their assignments, but (some) never make a play,” Austin said. “The whole deal is being able to do your assignments and make a play. That’s really what we’re looking for in Devin. If he’s making plays, he’s going to win the starting job. If he’s not making plays, then somebody else will be in there.”

That somebody else could be Spillane, or it could be an extra defensive back. At times during practice, the Steelers have deployed a dime look (six DBs) with Jack the lone linebacker on the field.

Have #Steelers coaches decided to explore a Plan C in lieu of deploying Devin Bush or Robert Spillane at inside linebacker? Monday’s practice suggests they might be. https://t.co/OCm8xRxGBx

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 16, 2022

Bush said the confidence in his surgically repaired left knee during this camp is “a complete 180” from what he felt last year at this time.

But this camp is different in that Bush’s mediocre production last season has put his NFL future in question, whereas last year during camp — even coming off a major injury — Bush was still generally thought of in NFL circles as an emerging star.

“Every year, a young player should be ascending,” Steelers defensive captain Cameron Heyward said. “I think a guy like Devin, obviously he didn’t have the (2021) year he wanted. But he’s come in with the right mindset. He’s running. He seems like he is more confident in what he’s doing out there. And there is growth in the defense as well.”

Bush better show growth if he wants to be paid among the NFL’s top linebackers in 2023 and beyond. Does this preseason feel different for him now that he is in a contract year for the first time?

“Not really,” Bush said. “I’ve got 17 weeks (in a 17-game schedule). And we’re going to see what happens after that.”

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