JuJu Smith-Schuster is far from retirement. But the Steelers receiver is starting to get the 'old guy' treatment at practice.
Smith-Schuster got a day off Wednesday, a move usually withheld for older, veteran players for rest and recovery. But he, at 24 years old, seems to have already done enough to earn the day of maintenance.
"I put in my contract that I have to take Wednesdays off," Smith-Schuster joked after Friday's final practice before Sunday's game against the Raiders. "It's just something with maintaining the body. This is year 5 for me. I've had some (injury) stuff in the past. We're just making sure we don't take any steps backwards."
Smith-Schuster's availability on game day is what's really important. And, as part of a jam-packed group of weapons for Ben Roethlisberger, he is willing to play whatever role new offensive coordinator Matt Canada thinks is necessary in those games.
That was on display Sunday when, in the win over Buffalo, he hauled in four passes for 52 yards, and was frequently used in Canada's trademark jet motions through the backfield.
"I was very happy with our play calling and the position they put us in," Smith-Schuster said. "I think what Matt Canada is doing is right, and good for the team. Whatever I can do to help. Whether I'm outside or inside, I'll take the double teams, I'll take bing a decoy, the motion stuff, the blocks. It doesn't bother me. As long as we win, that's all I care about."
Still, every receiver wants the ball as much as they can get it. Especially one who is playing on a one-year contract. But Smith-Schuster maintains that — at least for one week — the equal distribution of Roethlisberger's passes was good with the wideouts.
"There was no negativity on the sideline about the receivers getting tough balls," Smith-Schuster said. "We kept our composure."
This Sunday, Pittsburgh hosts a Vegas team that will be looking to disrupt the Steelers' receivers as much as possible in an effort to allow their strong pass rush to get to Roethlisberger. And Smith-Schuster knows that it'll be a challenge to find big plays.
"That matchup I got, hopefully we can get some balls down field, find little drops her and there," he said. "It's going to be a tough game."
Whether he hauls in a bevy of passes or he's used in other ways, Smith-Schuster seems to be embracing his role as a leader among a very young group of pass catchers.
"I feel like I am. I mean, I'm the same person," he said. "My role in my receiving room is a lot bigger than it was coming into the league. I fully embrace that. I love all of the guys in there, whether they're older than me, younger than me, same age as me."
His quarterback has seen his maturity, firsthand.
"He's growing into a leader, more and more," Roethlisberger said. "He's always kind of been a leader in terms of on the football field, in terms of how he plays the game. He's very physical. He's where he supposed to be. He gets those tough yards, those tough catches. He's dependable.
"And he's obviously been the older one in that room for a while now, which is crazy because he's still so young. But he just puts in the work and it pays off."
A sign of approval from the most important voice on the team. Yeah, that's a good thing. But, ultimately, Smith-Schuster wants to keep leadership open to whoever wants it.
"We all have a voice, we're all leaders and we all have a say. But it is a lot different, I do have a bigger role."
