Tim Benz: Of all the things Kevin Colbert discussed Monday, Stephon Tuitt's status may be the most pressing

Outgoing Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert held his annual offseason get-together with selected Steelers media members Tuesday. Many issues were discussed.

The plans to replace him after he retires following the draft. The offseason gameplan about what will be done at quarterback to replace the retired Ben Roethlisberger. What went into hiring Brian Flores as a defensive assistant and linebackers coach.

All important topics. Sure. But perhaps nothing was more pertinent to a potential quick fix for one of the Steelers’ glaring problems than when he was asked about the prognosis for Stephon Tuitt.

The veteran defensive end didn’t play last year because of a knee injury and the fact that he was dealing with the mental anguish of losing his brother — 23-year-old Richard Bartlett — in a fatal hit-and-run incident in Johns Creek, Ga., on June 2.

The extent to which either of those factors individually led to his year-long absence has never been addressed specifically by Tuitt or the organization. In fact, beyond a few comments from former defensive coordinator Keith Butler at the end of training camp, Tuitt’s status was hardly discussed publicly at all during the year.

At least not during the week leading up to games. It was certainly discussed on game days, though. Quite often. Because Tuitt’s permanent status on injured reserve, combined with Tyson Alualu’s ankle fracture in Week 2, led to a depleted defensive line.

A situation that may have been the Steelers’ most unexpected and glaring issue in 2021. They finished last in the NFL when it came to rush defense. They were 24th in total defense.

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Tuitt is signed through 2022 and has a base salary of more than $9 million. His cap hit is nearly $14 million.

“We’re very open to continuing to help him,” Colbert said of Tuitt on Monday. “We’ll continue to evaluate that position and his availability to us. We just hope for the best for him as he tries to come back and be a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

That was a very couched statement from Colbert. It didn’t even qualify as an “update” at all, aside from saying that the team and Tuitt may still have a future together in 2022.

If Tuitt is retained and able to get into shape enough to start and play effectively, then that is a massive tactical change in the Steelers’ approach to roster building this offseason.

Both in free agency and the draft.

The defensive line play, aside from All-Pro Cameron Heyward, was so gashed last year that a slow rebuild of the position group couldn’t have been in the cards. That’s one position that needed a quick fix. Perhaps both a free agent signing of significance and a high draft choice. Because as we saw once Tuitt and Alualu were lost for the season, not only were starting-capable players missing, but depth was a problem, too.

Chris Wormley should be credited for some help after a career-high seven sacks, including a 2.5-sack day at home against the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 5. He’s under contract for $2.9 million in 2022.

So, if it is believed that Alualu can return at full strength and Tuitt will be back to his usually productive, occasionally game-wrecking self, then maybe the Steelers can get away with simply adding a few depth pieces instead of throwing a lot of salary cap and draft capital at the problem.

But the Steelers have to be sure. What the front office knows and isn’t revealing about Tuitt and his status and how this information impacts the organization’s decision-making process doesn’t necessarily have to become public. Their actions will speak louder than any words could.

Whatever conclusion it comes to about Tuitt — or with him — has to be made quickly and definitively. The franchise did everything it needed to do to stand by Tuitt during his family crisis a year ago. It can’t enter 2022 with Tuitt as a “maybe” on the depth chart and with uncertainty if that $13.9 million cap hit will be used toward an active player.

For now, it sounds like Tuitt is still in the team’s plans. If he starts 2022 healthy, in shape and mentally capable of getting back to work, that would be the best possible outcome for the team. That description of Tuitt fit in 2020, and he ended up with a career-high 11 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Colbert has plenty of gaps to fill in his final offseason as Steelers general manager. A plan for the quarterback position needs to be established. The offensive line needs to improve. Five members of the secondary and three wide receivers are free agents.

The organization has every reason imaginable to want to keep Tuitt if it can. As Colbert’s response intimates, the club wants to do exactly that.

Should they? Given the tight-lipped nature of how Tuitt’s situation has been handled, only they know the answer to that. Tuitt needs to be honest with the team about where his physical health and mental health stand.

And the front office needs to be honest with itself about trying to do right by the player, while also doing right by the rest of the team.