Steelers Receive Great Health Update On Status Of Key Special Teamer

One of the most important things for any NFL team throughout any given season, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, is the overall health of the collective in the locker room. When the injury bug goes around, it often messes up consistency and disallows organizations from putting the best players on the field each and every week. The preseason wasn't horrible in the Steel City when it came to the health of the roster, but some individuals were unable to escape the exhibition period without ailments. Will Howard has been the one talked about the most, but there are important starters that are working their ways back as well.

The Steelers don't just have key players on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. It can easily be argued that due to the presence of Chris Boswell, special teams has been more pivotal in Pittsburgh compared to most other cities. Another guy that has been a crucial piece to Danny Smith's unit is Christian Kuntz, an underrated and elite long snapper.

Entering his fifth professional season, Kuntz unfortunately suffered a painful injury in the preseason, as he fractured his sternum. It was a rare and outlier of an injury, but certainly inconvenient.

He hosted an episode of The Christian Kuntz Podcast recently and gave an update on his condition, one that will spark a sigh of relief for fans in the Steel City. He is nearing a return to the field.

"I fell on my side," Kuntz said. "I feel good. I'm moving a lot better. I feel good. We're back to [long] snapping."

Long snappers have a bit of a thankless job, but it is an important one when fans take the time to understand how specific it is. Kuntz is also known for being one of the first players down the field on punts, so his role goes beyond just getting the ball into the hands of a holder or punter. It was relatively good news when he made the initial 53-man roster instead of landing on Injured Reserve. This hinted at the fact that the team expects him to be good to go for the regular season opener.

Sternum injuries are not ideal for anyone overall, but a football player suffering one is especially inconvenient. Having a tough time breathing and being in serious pain is uncomfortable, as Kuntz noted.

"I thought something was stabbing me," Kuntz detailed. "They rushed me to the hospital because it was a chest injury."

The special teams ace also told a story about his wild trip to the hospital. The medical personnel and others with him had sense of urgency to get him to the hospital, just in case, as a precautionary measure.

"I just remember remember, like, I was in some pain and in the front seat, kind of like hunched over, and I just remember the car shaking," Kuntz said. "Everyone's like, 'Woah, woah, woah, woah. Stop, stop stop.' I don't know. The cop hit a car and then pulled out of the parking lot; and then we were just flying by the stadium and put the lights on."

It sounds as if Kuntz had one heck of an experience. While it may be viewed as a little dramatic, it is necessary in those situations due to the nature of the injury. Now, he may be ready to play just a few weeks after, something that Smith will certainly enjoy.

Steelers Aim To Win Special Teams Battle Every Single Week

Boswell is a critical part to Pittsburgh's operation, but Kuntz sets up the process for him to kick extra points and field goals. Field position is a big emphasis for the Steelers, too, so Kuntz being effective on the punting team is crucial. It's good to hear him give a little bit more insight on what happened after his sternum injury, but it is great to hear that his health is trending in the right direction.

Do you think that Kuntz will be ready for Week 1? Let us know in the comments below!

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