James Conner productive in limited usage during return to Steelers’ lineup
James Conner’s first full game since October wasn’t a true full game in that he played 58% of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive snaps Sunday night.
Still, that was by far the most of any Steelers running back, and coach Mike Tomlin insisted Conner wasn’t on a “rep count” during the 17-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“I wasn’t (doing nothing during) my time off,” Conner said. “I was really working and trying to get back every week and tried to do everything so that when I did come back, I could be healthy and just go.”
.@JamesConner_ putting the defense on skates. #HereWeGo
?: #BUFvsPIT on NBC
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/NdeLpshk54 pic.twitter.com/VPHCfTTe9q— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2019
After the game, Conner said his shoulder “feels all right.”
Asked how healthy he was for the game, Conner said, “I played.”
Conner had eight carries for 42 yards and four catches on five targets for 9 yards. His running, for the most part, looked strong and crisp.
“I worked hard to get back,” he said. “I just wish we would have won.”
Conner had the Steelers’ touchdown on an 11-yard reception early in the third quarter.
.@JamesConner_ is back!
11 yards to give the @Steelers the lead. #HereWeGo
?: #BUFvsPIT on NBC
?: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/NdeLpshk54 pic.twitter.com/PHcEJ02t10— NFL (@NFL) December 16, 2019
“We do flat drills in practice for those moments,” Conner said. “That guy that took me one-on-one … you need to win the matchup when it’s a one-on-one against a corner.”
Conner had missed five of the Steelers’ six previous games. He suffered his injury during the final minutes of a win against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 28. He tried to come back 2½ weeks later for a game at the Cleveland Browns but lasted only one quarter before the injury was aggravated.
The rest of the division of labor at running back Sunday was 17 snaps for Jaylen Samuels, six for Kerrith Whyte, two for Benny Snell and one for Trey Edmunds.
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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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