Steelers' Diontae Johnson, Benny Snell eager to return to game action

After rookies Diontae Johnson and Benny Snell were held out of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ third preseason game, coach Mike Tomlin promised they would play in the ensuing game.

The coach was proven a man of his word, as the third- and fourth-round picks confirmed Tuesday they will be in action during Thursday’s preseason finale at the Carolina Panthers.

After missing practice last week because of a groin injury, Snell declared himself at “100%” health Tuesday.

Healthy enough to take on a heavy workload with the starters resting?

“With Benny Snell football, you take a full workload every game,” the running back said.

Johnson, the receiver taken with the highest draft choice acquired from Oakland in the Antonio Brown trade, expressed similar sentiment, even if he didn’t speak in the third person.

With Smith-Schuster entrenched as the No. 1 receiver this year and James Washington and Donte Moncrief leading the competition for the second starting job, Diontae Johnson will have to force his way onto the field https://t.co/x7jeCdU2Om

— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 26, 2019

Both players recognize their most immediate regular-season impact likely will be on special teams. Snell said he prides himself on doing each of the “core four” special teams (punt and kickoff return and coverage), and Johnson is eager to handle returning duties.

“Whatever they need me to play, I am going to play at,” Johnson said. “That’s all I can do is do what they can tell me to do, whether that’s kickoff return or punt return, I am going to play either of those.”

.@TimBenzPGH looks at the injury situations of Benny Snell and Bud Dupree pic.twitter.com/tasmcjEnyd

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Snell noted he played extensive special teams (14 snaps, tied for third on the team) in the preseason opener Aug. 9, and he also filled a similar role as a freshman at Kentucky before he became a two-time All-SEC running back.

“That’s my chance to show I’m a football player,” Snell said of special teams. “Any chance I get, opportunity-wise, I want to make the most of it, so special teams is huge.”

With veteran regulars such as running back James Conner and receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Donte Moncrief among those not playing, reps figure to be plentiful for Snell and Johnson as each seeks a role in the offense.

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.