Aug 4, 2013 4 min read

LATROBE – It happened more than once in 2012. A tight end would make a catch and the crowd would erupt with a cheer of “Heath” before realizing it was rookie David Paulson.

The Steelers hope Paulson can fool even more people into thinking he’s Miller this season, particularly if the Pro Bowl tight end isn’t ready for the start of the season after suffering a torn ACL and MCL at the end of 2012.

The Steelers were aware that Miller, the 2012 team MVP, might be slowed at the start of the regular season and re-signed veteran Matt Spaeth, a 2007 draft pick who had spent the past two seasons in Chicago, to help ease the blow.

But Spaeth has been sidelined at the team’s training camp since having fluid removed from his knee Friday, leaving Paulson and Jamie McCoy, who has appeared in one NFL game as a special teams player, as the team’s lone healthy tight ends with any NFL experience.

“Right now, it’s me and Jamie (McCoy) and two rookies,” said Paulson, who appeared in all 16 games in 2012. “Matt will be back in a little bit, but we’re trying to help the rookies out as much as possible.”

Paulson had seven receptions for 51 yards and also made four tackles on special teams in 2012, but is being counted on for much more this season, particularly as Miller works his way back onto the field.

“Heath is one of the best tight ends, if not the best tight end, in the National Football League,” said Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. “Heath is one of those guys who you just know that it’s hard to replace him. He’s working extremely hard to get back.

“Hopefully, we’ll get him back at the start of the season. Paulson and Spaeth have been doing a good job. Paulson has taken huge steps from being a rookie last year to his second year. I can see him making a lot of plays for us this season.”

If Paulson, a seventh-round draft pick out of Oregon in 2012, does make a big leap forward, he can credit a hefty increase in his offseason workouts.

The 6-4, 246-pound 24-year-old got a good taste of the NFL in 2012 and saw what he needed to do to be better. That included increasing his strength in order to become a better blocker.

“I just saw how tough the game is, how fast it is. I tried to use that to motivate myself this offseason to try to get better. I felt good about my rookie year, but obviously, there were things I could improve on,” Paulson said. “I saw that and tried to work in the offseason in the weight room.”

The results of the added strength have been obvious in training camp as Paulson has looked more confident as an in-line blocker. As for the receiving part of the game, he’s always had that ability, something he showed off in Saturday’s short-yardage and goal-line drills, catching a touchdown pass off of play-action from backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski.

Because of the injuries, he had to line up with both the first- and second-team units.

“We’re trying to get healthy,” Paulson said of the Miller and Spaeth. “They’ll all be back soon, hopefully. We’re just trying to hold it down until they get back.”

Odds and end zones

Linebacker Lawrence Timmons was given a second consecutive day off to deal with the death of his grandmother. … Safety Troy Polamalu was given the day off to deal with what Mike Tomlin said was a “bruise to his birth certificate.” Also missing practice Sunday in addition to Speath, were corners DeMarcus Van Dyke, Cortez Allen, Terry Hawthorne and Curtis Brown, running back Curtis McNeal, safety Ross Ventrone, linebacker Adrian Robinson and defensive end Nick Williams. … Linebackers Jason Worilds and Jarvis Jones, defensive tackle Steve McLendon and running back Le’Veon Bell participated in position drills but did not compete in the team portion of practice. … The Steelers will hold a 3 p.m. practice today that is open to the public.