Tomlin hints Heath Miller close to being activated

By Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin indicated this afternoon that tight end Heath Miller is close to being activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list. Miller, who tore three ligaments in his right knee in the 15th game of last season against the Cincinnati Bengals, must be activated to the 53-man roster by 6 p.m. Saturday if he is to play before the sixth week of the season.

"He's doing great," Tomlin said. "He really is. We'll look more hard-core at him when we get back from Carolina, obviously, but the fact that I mentioned his name would give an indication that things are progressing and progressing nicely."

Miller is one of only four players who have been ruled out for the final preseason game Thursday night in Carolina. The others are running backs Le'Veon Bell and Isaac Redman and rookie linebacker Jarvis Jones. All other injured players have a chance to play.

All indications have been that Miller will be activated by 6 p.m. Saturday. That doesn't mean he would play in the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Titans, but it would allow him to practice with his teammates and test his knee in a more vigorous manner. The Steelers play four consecutive games to start the season before their bye week.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/tomlin-hints-that-miller-close-to-being-activated-700948/#ixzz2dECQTAJB

       

I drafted Heath on my fantasy team banking on him being a second half player. I would LOVE for him to come back before game 4. We would be a MUCH better team.

Heath could be the X-factor in the downfield success of our passing game. Knowing he's not on the field allows the defenses to focus more on Saunders and Brown.

IMO- Heath is a top 5 TE. We will definitely be missing him for however long he is out. He's not a GREAT blocker, but he gets the job done and he has great hands for a big man.

Whyant5 wrote:

IMO- Heath is a top 5 TE.

That's not opinion ... that's fact.  

A lot of teams nowadays use tight ends more like wide receivers. Heath has always been used like a traditional tight end, therefore, his numbers haven't equaled those of guys like Vernon Davis and Tony Gonzalez. I have no doubt that if Heath played on a team that used him more like a "modern" tight end, his numbers would be a lot better and he'd be considered by most as one of the top tight ends in the league. But in Pittsburgh, tight ends have to do more than just catch the ball and score touchdowns. Heath does it all, and he's easily one of the best complete (receiving AND blocking) tight ends in the NFL.