Veteran Center Maurkice Pouncey told reporters that he had no restrictions during his first full practice back with the team since having surgery on his ACL and MCL last September. “I am out here, full go,” Pouncey said after practice concluded Tuesday. “It was pretty neat man, to go out there and drive block guys and finish on some plays. Man, it was pretty awesome. ”

While it wasn’t a full speed, full contact practice in pads, for Pouncey and his teammates, his return was meaningful. “It was a big step,” said Pouncey. “For the coaches to see it, for my teammates to see it, and for me myself to see it, it was pretty cool.”

“It’s comfortable. He’s a comfort blanket. He’s a leader of this team, a leader of the offensive line, and it’s just good to see him out there,” quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told media after practice.

“I thought he could have played at the end of last year. That’s how hard he worked. I really believe he could have played last year, because that’s the type of competitor and athlete that he is.”

Ramon Foster echoed the sentiments. “It was good. I shook his hand like we were business partners today. It was good to have him out there, and he was ecstatic about it too. It was a good vibe for him and for us also.”

Foster also said he was surprised at how ahead of schedule Pouncey is. “I think he’s ahead of schedule…as far as his movement and what he was doing, I was shocked.”

When asked when he started feeling pretty good, Poucney said, “A month and a half, two months ago, I started feeling really great, especially in the weight room.”

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