Rehabbing a wrist and being a pass-rushing linebacker in the NFL is a tricky proposition. If Steelers linebacker
Jarvis Jones didn’t figure that out last year when he came back from a dislocated wrist that required surgery only after 10 weeks, he sure does now.
The Steelers finished the first week of organized team activities on the South Side on Thursday and Jones revealed afterward that he is still dealing with some minor issues with his wrist.
“It was a serious injury and I am still rehabbing it and everything but I still have some strength and motion and mobility stuff I am working on with it,” Jones said.
The Steelers are counting on Jones to take over the full-time role as right outside linebacker even though James Harrison was re-signed in the offseason.
Jones appeared to be well on his way of having a solid second year in the league a season ago. Jones had two sacks in 56 pass rushes and also forced a fumble before dislocating his wrist on possibly his most disruptive play of his career.
Jones sacked Carolina quarterback Cam Newton and forced a fumble early in the third quarter of a 9-3 game. The Steelers turned it into a touchdown and went on to a 37-19 road win.
Jones spent the next 10 weeks on the injured reserve/designated to return list before coming back for a Week 14 game against the Bengals, where he split snaps with Arthur Moats.
After Harrison returned in Week 16, Jones rarely got on the field. Jones played 16 snaps over the final three games to cap a second unproductive season.