PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said for competitiveness sake, he will not discuss the participation of players in practice. The players media members were inquiring about were outside linebacker Melvin Ingram and tight end Eric Ebron.
Tomlin would go on to confirm that Ingram missed practice on Friday, saying it was because of a groin injury. There is speculation that Ingram has asked for a trade, looking for more playing time.
“I’ve had some conversations with Melvin, but I will leave them between he and I,” Tomlin said. “The reason he didn’t work today was because of his groin.”
“I’m not going to talk about it,” said linebacker TJ Watt. “I don’t know many specifics.”
Ingram has played in 62% of the snaps this year according to Pro Football Reference. However Ingram played his fewest snaps in the most recent game against Seattle, only 17 or 26%. The veteran free agent played in 63% against Buffalo, 86% vs. the Raiders and 100% against Cincinnati. Ingram played in 49% against the Packers and 60% against the Broncos.
It’s an apparent attitude change from when he signed with the Steelers, Ingram told reporters of what he expects with his new team.
“Just trying to help out,” Ingram said in late July. “Coaches will tell me whatever my role is. I will go out there and work hard every day and let them figure it out.”
Ingram went on to say it’s ‘amazing here, the coaches, the players, the city. Just how they do everything’. Adding ‘it’s like a kid in a candy store’.
Currently Ingram is the primary back-up at both outside linebacker positions. While Alex Highsmith played 100% of the snaps against Seattle, he missed a game this year with a groin injury, as did Watt.
“It’s always a feel thing,” Watt said of him getting rest during a game. “We both have a really good feel for how the game goes. Some games you need more of a rotation, some games you don’t. It’s all about how you feel and stay healthy. I feel like we have a good hold on how we are rotating.”
If Ingram is unavailable due to injury or any other reason. The only other outside linebacker currently on the roster is Derrek Tuszka. Tomlin said Friday he’s primarily a special teams’ guy.
“I don’t expect that to change this weekend,” Tomlin said bluntly.
If needed, Watt elaborated.
“Derrek has done a great job,” Watt said. “I think he was with Denver last year, was able to play in quite a few games. He’s a great (special) teamer for us as well. Just a guy that’s very eager to learn. I feel like he does a lot of great things specifically against the run. His pass rush package is developing too, a guy that’s on the rise for sure.”
The 25-year-old from North Dakota State played in nine games with the Broncos last year with six tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Tomlin did not comment on Ebron’s status as we await an injury report. The Steelers head coach said offensive tackle Zach Banner is ready to go full speed and said running back Anthony McFarland is an option for Sunday.