The Steelers have one of the worst kickoff return units in the NFL. Could a change be coming?
Rookie running back Tony Brooks-James said practiced as a returner and would welcome the opportunity in a game. The speedy Brooks-James returned kicks for Oregon. As a senior, he averaged 26.1 yards per return. The longest return for a Steeler on any kick this year is 26 yards.
“Me and Coach have talked about it a little,” Brooks-James said, “and in practice I have done it a little bit. But I am trying to get it in a game, too.”
The Steelers did not practice kickoff returns Wednesday, Brooks-James said.
Last season, Brooks-James had five games in which he returned at least one kickoff 32 yards. He returned 44 kicks during his college career, including a 100-yard touchdown on the opening kickoff of the 2017 season.
Over his final two seasons, Brooks-James averaged 25.9 yards per return. The Steelers this season are averaging 18.3 yards per return (Ryan Switzer and Johnny Holton are at that figure), third-worst in the NFL. Only two other teams do not have at least one return of 27 yards or more.
.@AtlantaFalcons RB Tony Brooks-James plants his foot and marches his way into the end zone! #ATLvsJAX @_TonytooTone pic.twitter.com/VfNV9NdjZP
— NFL (@NFL) August 29, 2019
Brooks-James did not play at all on special teams during his regular-season debut Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts after being promoted from the practice squad the day prior. Brooks-James played four offensive snaps as the No. 3 running back behind Jaylen Samuels and Trey Edmunds; he had one second-quarter carry for 0 net yards.
“It didn’t end as well as I hoped,” the 5-foot-9 Brooks-James said with a laugh. “But it’s definitely something that I will remember.”
With James Conner practicing this week and perhaps returning to the lineup after missing last week’s game because of a shoulder injury, Brooks-James perhaps might be a candidate to be a Sunday inactive.
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