PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers linebacker Devin Bush says he has no limitations coming back from ACL surgery. Bush said the Steelers are being smart with working him back as it’s a long season and not to put more strain on the knee early.
“I feel good,” Bush said Monday. “I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a while now, but mentally I think I’m ready.”
Bush was playing one of his better games of his second season before tearing the ACL against the Browns. In all, the 10th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft started five games with a sack, two QB hits, three passes defended and 26 tackles. He believes it’s starting to come for him.
“If you go back and watch my rookie year,” Bush said. “That’s all we talked about, our communication had to get better, had to get better. As long as you are on the same page with who you are playing with. You got trust out there. You can play as fast as you want.”
He’s now getting on the same page with a new partner. Likely Robert Spillane would have won the starting job, but it became official when Vince Williams retired. The undrafted Spillane filled in for Bush last year with pretty good success. Now Bush will play alongside Spillane and they work after practice every day on that connection.
“It’s about trust, especially on the field,” Bush said. “Everything is moving so fast, motions and just playing the game, you want to be able to trust someone out there. Be able to see what they see. Communication is big. Being on the same page is huge.”
Bush said they are learning each other’s style and not just with Spillane but Bush rarely was on the same field in his career with LB Alex Highsmith, there will be a new slot defensive back and linebacker Melvin Ingram signed just last month.
“We come out here every day,” Bush said. “We build on that comradery and we are playing well together right now. We still have a lot of things to clean up, but I think we will be a real, real good defense as long as we don’t beat ourselves.”
Some are concerned about the impact of not having TJ Watt participate in team drills as he waits for a new contract. Bush isn’t.
“We will see TJ soon,” Bush said. “No sweat. He has to go through what he has to go through. Until then we have to practice hard and get ready for the season.”