After watching Devin Bush struggle defending the pass and run in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 41-37 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, coach Mike Tomlin said the play of the former No. 10 overall pick has been “spotty at times” this season.
“It hasn’t been at the level of consistency that he would like or we would like,” Tomlin said Tuesday at his weekly press conference. “But he’s had some challenges from a health standpoint, working back from the injuries and things that he has.”
Bush is about 13 months removed from undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL. It typically takes a year to recover, and a player often doesn’t regain full strength, mobility and speed in the knee until the following season.
According to Pro Football Focus’ subjective ratings system, Bush received the lowest grade of any Steelers player against the Chargers, and he also graded lowest when stopping the run. Chargers receivers caught all six passes thrown to them while Bush was in coverage. That included a touchdown by running back Austin Ekeler.
“You look at some of the similar injuries that are going on around the league, guys that are in similar circumstances and they’re participating much less,” Tomlin said. “Unfortunately, I saw Bud Dupree, for instance, was placed on IR last week, and Saquon Barkley and others.
“Zach Banner, on our team, is still working his way back. We want more from him. He wants more from himself. But we are appreciative that he’s put himself in position to be available and is playing as much as he is and is having the level of consistent availability and production that he is.”
Bush has played 80% of the defensive snaps this season and has been replaced by Rob Spillane in the dime package. He missed the second game of the season against Las Vegas with a groin injury.
