At cornerback, the Steelers now have Will Gay, Ross Cockrell, Artie Burns and newly acquired Justin Gilbert on the roster. “I don’t really want to talk about it so much, but just show it with my actions on the field and my play”.
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Dupree may not miss the season entirely.
It was a disastrous rookie season that ended with a suspended finale.
Two seasons later, Gilbert is using similar language.
The Browns’ new coach, Hue Jackson, seemed to agree. “He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do, the way we’ve asked him to do it”. The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Gilbert from the Browns on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016, hoping the former first-round pick can help out a secondary in the midst of a youth movement.
Throughout his time in Cleveland, Gilbert not only was a major disappointment, but after just starting in three games in two seasons, he was demoted to just a return man on special teams at one point in 2015.
“A little bit surprised”, he said. “At the same time I still haven’t played yet”. I’m excited for that every day. Everybody has welcomed me with open arms and I am just ready to get to work. I just want to finish out the year here and make it to the playoffs and get to the Super Bowl.
Gilbert said he isn’t concerned with playing time.
Don’t expect much news on this subject from the Steelers after practice.
“I wouldn’t say I needed one”, he said. “I’m not overly concerned about it right now”, Tomlin said. Gilbert is under contract for the next two seasons at salaries of $786,682 and $970,023.
Tomlin declined to provide specifics on how the playing time will be split, wary of an innocuous comment by outside linebackers coach Joey Porter previous year in which Porter said the team would try to limit Harrison’s playing time. “If not, I probably won’t be”, Gilbert said.
So at least he believes he’s begun to mature after his hard rookie season.
“It’s a lot different here”, Gilbert said. “After a year in the league and not getting done what I wanted to get done, it’s kind of changed me”.
Of course, all the maturation in the world isn’t going to matter if he can’t play his position.
Hargrave won the starting nose tackle job and will become the first rookie defensive lineman to start for the Steelers in 22 years if he is good to go. Stephon Tuitt confirmed that Daniel McCullers and Ricardo Mathews returned to practice from injuries, therefore lessening any possible loss of Hargrave.
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“All I know is what I can do and what I’m going to do for this franchise, just going out and proving it every day”, Gilbert said. Mettenberger had worn the number with the Tennessee Titans.
