Steelers reinstate camp darling WR Rico Bussey from IR
The Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday announced they are reinstating rookie wide receiver Rico Bussey to the practice squad from the practice squad injured reserve list.
While on face value a minor procedural transaction, it could mean the Steelers are considering elevating Bussey for one of their final two regular-season games. Bussey raised eyebrows as an undrafted rookie during training camp, but he was cut at the end of camp and added to the practice squad. Six days later, the Steelers placed him on practice-squad IR because of an undisclosed ailment.
That the Steelers kept around an undrafted rookie all season — particularly one who turned heads during camp — perhaps is a signal Bussey is an option to “earn a hat” on the gameday roster against the Cleveland Browns on Monday or at the Baltimore Ravens in the season finale.
Steelers inside the ropes: Undrafted WR Rico Bussey steals the showhttps://t.co/Go7chhwz6f
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) July 30, 2021
Since the season-ending injury to JuJu Smith-Schuster, the Steelers have turned to current or former practice-squad players such as Cody White, Steven Sims and Anthony Miller to serve as a No. 5 wide receiver for games. They have combined for negligible impact.
The 6-foot-0, 186-pound Bussey played for Hawaii in 2020 after spending his first four seasons of college at North Texas. He got onto NFL scouts’ radars with 19 touchdowns in 25 games over the 2017 and 2018 seasons. But Bussey suffered a torn ACL in 2019, and he blamed covid-19 for affecting his rehab and lack of return to top form in 2020.
Bussey gained fans notice by catching a touchdown and making another catch during a simulated 2-minute drill late in a July practice at Heinz Field.
Bussey had four catches for 45 yards during the Steelers’ second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In a corresponding move, receiver Tyler Vaughns was placed on the practice squad/covid-19 list.
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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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