Pittsburgh Steelers rookie defensive lineman, DeMarvin Leal was just getting his feet wet in the NFL. After he somehow fell to the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, former general manager, Kevin Colbert had to select the talented lineman. With an aging defensive line that includes Cam Heyward and Tyson Alualu, Leal made perfect sense for the team's lone third-round selection.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
With Alualu and some others struggling along the line, Leal was earning more playing time in the first month of his rookie season. He played a career-high 27 snaps in Week 4 against the New York Jets, performing quite well in the process. Then, in the Week 5 blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills, he hurt his knee. After undergoing meniscus surgery, Leal was placed on IR.
He returned to practice a few weeks ago, which opened up his 21-day period to be activated off the IR. Specifically, he returned on Wednesday, November 16. A few days after his return, he told reporters that he was "close" to being 100%. Fast forward a few weeks, and on Friday, the rookie told Nick Farabaugh of Pittsburgh Sports Now that he is indeed 100% now and ready to officially be back in the lineup.
Steelers DL DeMarvin Leal said his knee feels great and that he’s ready to return this week. He has 100% confidence in his knee.
— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) December 2, 2022
Steelers DL might be at full strength.
Head coach Mike Tomlin didn't mention Leal's name in his weekly press conference earlier in the week on Tuesday. That doesn't mean Leal can't play this weekend, but just two days away from the Week 13 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, it's probably unlikely. In order to return to the field in 2022, the Steelers must activate Leal by Wednesday, the last day in the 21-day activation period.
Credit: Jordan Schofield/SteelerNation (JSKO_PHOTO Twitter)
Leal's return will certainly be welcomed, as the defense is working to return to full health. They put in a phenomenal performance on Monday Night Football against the Indianapolis Colts, helping pick up the team's fourth win of the season. Now, they're looking to string multiple dominant performances together. Sitting at 4-7, the Steelers will need just that in order to make a possible playoff push. In fact, they may have to win the final six games in order to have any legitimate chance at making it.
What kind of impact can Leal's possible return have? Do you see him as being a vital member of this team's future? Should Tomlin give Leal more playing time down the stretch of the 2022 season? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comment section below, yinz!
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