Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell returned to practice Thursday, more than four weeks after he had been placed on the injured reserve list because of a groin injury.

The move opens up a 21-day window in which Boswell must be activated to the 53-man roster, or he is out for the season. The Steelers have five games left in their season and play three times over the next 21 days, including at home Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

The injury to Boswell’s right groin was discovered 48 hours prior to the Steelers’ Oct. 30 game at the Philadelphia Eagles. With little time to adjust, the Steelers employed undrafted rookie Nick Sciba for that game after hastily signing him to their practice squad Oct. 29.

The Steelers signed Matthew Wright off the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad in advance of their next game, and Wright has filled in for Boswell ever since. Wright had 19 prior games of NFL experience for three teams (including the Steelers in 2020). After missing two field goals in his Steelers 2022 debut Nov. 13, Wright has made all 15 of his placekicks in the three games since.

An eight-year veteran, Boswell signed a four-year, $20 million contract extension in August that at the time represented the highest average annual salary given to a kicker in NFL history.

In nine games this season, the 31-year-old Boswell had made 12 of 16 field goals and all nine of his extra-point tries.

Veteran cornerback William Jackson III remains on injured reserve and has not yet returned to practice despite also being eligible to this week. Jackson III has not played for the Steelers since being acquired in a trade from the Washington Commanders last month.

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