The Steelers have 13 more days to decide if they will activate offensive lineman Zach Banner to the 53-man roster. If it were up to Banner, he'd come off injured reserve this week and play against the Broncos on Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field.
Banner suffered a season-ending knee injury last September that required reconstructive surgery. He was cleared to practice at the start of training camp in July, but he had a setback during a preseason game against the Lions in August. He was placed on injured reserve to start the season and did not practice again until last week.
"I want to play," Banner said following Thursday's practice at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side. "It's the coaches pulling the leash. I'm not making that up. It's the truth. I want to play. I'm ready to play."
Banner has to convince the coaches he is 100% healthy before they take him off injured reserve. Coach Mike Tomlin will have the final say, and he's going to make sure after Banner's setback had a ripple effect down his line.
"I just had a really good practice," Banner said. "It's not so much about having a good practice. I've had good practices, OK practices during camp, but it's the next day. It's how it is the next day after that and the next day after that. I have to be reliable.
"Every single one of those 53-man roster spots means something. That means someone is going to do something to contribute to the team. I would not take up one of those spots until I can actually contribute to the team, or else I'm just hurting the team. And I'm OK with that. I'm a team guy first."
The addition of Banner would give the Steelers something closer to the lineup they had envisioned during the offseason. He would slot in at right tackle with either Chuks Okorafor or Dan Moore playing left tackle.
At 6-feet-8 and 344 pounds, Banner has the size and physicality to bring another dimension to the Steelers' running game.
"Obviously, it would be great," offensive coordinator Matt Canada said. "He's working himself back and trying to get healthy. He's a very good player we counted on coming [into the season]. His leadership is a big deal, as well."
Assembling the most experienced lineup might be what's best for the offense in the long run, but it also would mean making some adjustments in the short term.
Okorafor, who moved to right tackle late in training camp after Banner had his setback, would go back to left tackle or head to the bench if the coaches preferred Moore, who has started the first four games at left tackle.
Joe Haeg, who started in place of Okorafor last week, would head back to the bench, too.
Not that Canada seems concerned about playing musical chairs with his lineup a month into the season. He made it clear on Thursday that when the times comes for Banner to come back, they will make any necessary adjustments to get him into the lineup.
"That's kind of what we've been doing the whole time," Canada said. "We've had an interesting situation up front with guys all the way back to the start of camp. Guys have been in and out. We're working to find that. We're going through that."
The setback was tough for Banner to deal with from a physical standpoint, but it's been doubly difficult from a mental standpoint because he developed into one of the unit's leaders over the offseason. Banner only has four career starts, but he's been with the Steelers since 2018 and is the longest-tenured member of the line along with Okorafor.
Banner has tried to remain a leader during his absence, but he said it's hard to have a voice when he's not playing.
"I just know when I'm standing there with no pads on, I'm not contributing," he said. "From a physical standpoint, I'm in guys' ears. But at a certain point, you feel like a weapon on the shelf. And I feel like that.
"I'm used to being Mr. Reliable. I feel like I'm letting the team down. It's simple."
The Steelers could take Banner off the shelf this week for the Broncos. Or they could wait until next week when the Seahawks visit Heinz Field.
If he's not activated by the time the Steelers visit the Browns on Halloween, he'll revert to IR for the remainder of the season.
"There is a checklist, and yes there is a sense of urgency," Banner said. "I'll leave it at that."
