Tuiit

STEELERS/NFL

Will Stephon Tuitt be ready for the regular-season opener for Steelers?

CHRIS ADAMSKI
Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021 5:00 p.m.


CHAZ PALLA | TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Stephon Tuitt, No. 91 at center, shares a light moment with longtime teammates Ben Roethlisberger, Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt during a Pittsburgh Steelers training-camp practice last month. Tuitt has yet to participate in a full practice all camp.


Cameron Heyward didn’t miss a beat Thursday. He answered the final question of an 11-minute conversation with media with conviction.

Is there any concern his longtime running mate on the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive line, Stephon Tuitt, would be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 12?

“No,” is all Heyward said as he stood on the Heinz Field grass.

And with that, he walked away from the makeshift podium.

A day earlier, though, when asked the same question, defensive coordinator Keith Butler did not sound nearly as convinced.

“Boy, I hope so. I really hope so,” Butler said. “I think he will be. We don’t want him to go out there and get hurt and we lose him for another four weeks or something like that. We want to make sure he’s in shape and ready to play when we play our first ballgame.”

Tuitt has not taken part in a team drill during any of the Steelers’ first 20 practices of training camp. He also did not dress for either of their two preseason games and won’t when the Steelers host the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

But what is preventing Tuitt from taking the field remains a mystery. Tuitt tragically lost his brother, Richard Bartlett III, in a hit-and-run accident in June. Tuitt was excused from the Steelers’ mandatory minicamp later that month.

He has worked only during stretch periods and on his own during camp. Though he has been absent from some camp sessions, Tuitt has been at Heinz Field running or doing light drills much more often than not.

The Steelers haven’t said whether Tuitt’s inability to participate is because of an injury, if it’s emotionally related or if his conditioning needs to be ramped up after his taxing offseason. But it increasingly appears Tuitt is dealing with a physical injury.

Asked Thursday, coach Mike Tomlin referenced he is not required by NFL rules to acknowledge or discuss injuries until the regular season begins. The clock is ticking on that — 3 1/2 weeks until the Steelers open at the Buffalo Bills. And Tomlin said he does not have a timetable for Tuitt’s return to full practice.

“I haven’t asked (the medical staff) a lot,” Tomlin said. “I know that he’s had good days. I know progress has been made. I know that he’ll be excited to get back out there with his teammates.”

As the third longest-tenured and fourth most-compensated player on the team in 2021, Tuitt’s value to the Steelers is difficult to understate. He was second on the team last season in sacks (11), QB hits (25) and forced fumbles (tied, two). By the count of Pro Football Focus, Tuitt was second only to AP Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald among interior defensive linemen in pressures of opposing quarterbacks.

“He’s working his way back,” Heyward said. “He’s gone through stuff this offseason, and we are just going to continue to be there for him. As the season approaches (head trainer John Norwig) and Coach T will have more information, but he’s in every meeting, he’s learning.”

Gregarious and a popular locker-room presence, Tuitt’s teammates have been offering support.

“We understand football is just a game,” Heyward said. “And for anyone to lose a loved one, it hurts a lot. All we can do is be there and make sure we are there for him in any capacity. And we understand this isn’t just going to go away. We’ve all lost someone, and we understand it’s not going to be the same for any person but whatever he needs we will be there for him.”

 

Why haven't I heard of this

 

I sure the hell they are all smiling like that come January.

 

Yeah. I knew He hasn't been playing, but I didn't know why. I heard about his loss, but this sounds like something different.

 

Same...

 

Says he’s been stretching and working on his own. Maybe him and Watt have the same agent?

 

The extent of this question only came to light yesterday. Everyone was thinking it was because of emotional trauma. Yesterday reporters started to push the injury question.

 

He can hardly be blamed for not having his mind on football right now.... I'm sure he'll be ready for the regular season though

 

As I'm sure a bunch of other board members can attest to losing a family member especially a relatively healthy and young one so suddenly, it puts a different perspective on what is important.

I won't presume to know what Tuitt is going through but I will offer my own experience to the board as an example. 8 years ago when my wife and I found out she was pregnant with our second child we were over the moon by the news but also concerned. She has always had issues with her pregnancies and was over 30 which put her and the baby into a higher risk category. Her 1st official doctor's visit and ultrasound involved a relatively new ultrasound tech and they couldnt find a fetal heartbeat. Panic set in for her and our doctor said let's give it a week, do some praying and check again. The wife called me at work to tell me we might lose the baby. To this day I can't tell you what I did that day. I was as supportive of her as I could be but was in a world of fear and doubt myself and work didn't matter or anything else. It's a blur. We supported one another and a week later on a Friday morning we braced for the worst and went to the doctors office. This time we had the head Ultrasound Tech and within the 1st minute he locked on and turned up the volume and goes ok there is your baby, nice strong heartbeat. We went from the depths of despair to the highest highs. Whether you believe in a higher power or not I said a silent prayer in thanks and realized that at that point things I though important weren't really. Our little Emma made her appearance a few months later forever changing our lives.

So I imagine with over two decades full of memories and experiences with his brother Tuitt might find football a bit pointless at this time but could internalize his grief and just bury himself in work. So I'm sure in his own time he will be back. Either way I won't get down on him for it, thoughts and prayers to his family in a difficult time.

 

Oh absolutely, I don't blame the guy one bit...But with todays media EVERYTHING is out there... I'm just surprised this is the first anyones heard of it ( his potential injury) that is

 

I totally agree, but it sounds like there's more 2 it. Like maybe an injury, or maybe I , and everyone else are just worried over nothing

 

thats two guys we are counting on heavily for this defense to be really good. TJ and tuitt. we have ingram that could solve one problem short term. davis is also playing well if it comes down tuitt. < did you catch that . we have 3 weeks and hopefully these two are ready to go come beefalo time.