Despite struggles, Bush sounds convinced he's on solid recovery track taken on the South Side (Steelers)

GETTY

Devin Bush

Third-year linebacker Devin Bush has become the symbol for everything that ails the Steelers this season as they've muddled their way through 13 games to a 6-6-1 record.

But Bush doesn't necessarily believe that it's fair to point to him as one of the main reasons for the Steelers' struggles, even though he admits he hasn't played up to par as he comes back from a torn ACL suffered a year ago.

"My first day of training camp until now, I think I've progressed tremendously," Bush said Monday. "Obviously, nobody on the Steelers is playing up to their potential. That is reflected on how we've played in the games we've lost and tied. Nobody's playing their best football right now. I'm not going to single myself or anybody else out because we're a team. I think we've got to keep building. There's always going to be next season. We've got a lot of work to do now and we've got a lot of work to do next season."

While Bush might have an eye toward down the road and the finish of this season, it's his play in 2021 that has so many people -- including the Steelers -- concerned, especially considering what the Steelers gave up to move up from the 20th pick in the 2019 draft to 10 to select the former Michigan star.

Early in his career, it looked like Bush might be worthy of giving up a first, second and future third-round pick to jump up 10 spots to acquire his services. Bush had 109 tackles, two interceptions and a sack as a rookie. He was off to a solid start again in 2020, recording 26 tackles and a sack before suffering a torn ACL late in the first half of a win over the Browns just five games into the season.

This year, Bush has looked tentative at times and unable to get off blocks at others. In last Thursday's 36-28 loss to the Vikings, he and fellow inside linebacker Joe Schobert were rotated with rookie Buddy Johnson, a fourth-round draft pick, at times, while Marcus Allen played inside linebacker in the dime defense.

"We're not whooping enough tail, you know. We're not striking enough," Mike Tomlin said of the play of his inside linebackers and why that move was made. "We're not making the power fall the right direction enough. I'd be remiss -- I'd be doing that group a disservice if I didn't look at all options, and Buddy is an option that has worked, and so we played him some."

Bush has still played 82 percent of the Steelers' defensive snaps, but that's not what he was drafted to do. The Steelers made the move up to get him to be an every-down linebacker.

And prior to his injury last season, Bush had played every defensive snap.

“My first year and my second year were two good years,” Bush said. “My third year is something I’ve never experienced before, especially coming off an injury like that. That was my first time going through an injury like that, first time getting surgery, first time doing rehab, first time being away from the game for a year. So it was definitely a learning experience.

"I've had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of good times and a lot of bad times, but I think I’m still the same player. I feel like I’m the same player. I know I’m the same player. The stat sheet might not reflect that, but no one on the Steelers is playing to their potential. That just goes to show where we are in the record book and where we stand in the division.”

Bush has recorded 61 tackles, two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another. And against the Vikings, he had a pass defense that wound up in the hands of cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon for an interception. He also led the team in tackles with eight. But in a game in which the Steelers allowed Dalvin Cook to rush for 205 yards and the Vikings to get 242 on the ground as a team, it wasn't anywhere near good enough.

It was the latest game in which the Steelers have gotten gashed by an opponent on the ground. They've fallen to 30th in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing nearly 140 yards per game.

But with four games remaining and a potential playoff berth still in play, the Steelers will be keeping a close eye on Bush with an eye on winning games, as well.

They currently sit a half-game out of a playoff spot in the jumbled AFC race. Tomlin has said the team will "leave no stone unturned," when it comes to finding a way to win as many games as possible.

That could include sitting Bush at times.

"I'll do whatever the coaches decide to do," Bush said.

It could, however, make things difficult on the Steelers in the long term. The team must decide whether it wants to pick up a fifth-year option on Bush's rookie contract this spring. The estimates on that would be around $11 million -- fully guaranteed -- for 2023.

If they don't pick up the option, Bush will earn $3 million in salary in 2022 and then potentially become a free agent.

The Steelers will have to weigh whether they feel Bush -- who ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine -- can regain his form from his first two seasons or if they'll want to chance moving on from a player they gave up so much to acquire.

“I would love to be here if they want me here, but I don’t think about the business side of it yet,” Bush said. “But I would love to be here.”

• The Steelers activated offensive lineman Joe Haeg from the Reserve/COVID-19 List on Monday.

The team also signed veteran edge rusher John Simon to the practice squad. Simon (6-foot-2, 260 pounds), in a nine-year NFL veteran and has played with the Ravens, Texans, Colts, Patriots and Titans.

He has 21 career sacks in 99 games, 52 of them starts.

Simon could help provide depth if either T.J. Watt or Alex Highsmith are unable to play in next Sunday's game against the Titans. Simon also appeared in two games with the Titans this season. Watt (groin) and Highsmith (quad) both were injured last week against the Vikings.

Practice squad defensive back Linden Stephens was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 List.

Loading...
Loading...