Jul 24, 2016 6 min read

Dealing with injuries is a constant in the NFL.

Dealing with injuries and suspensions? That’s not always the norm.

It certainly was last season for the Pittsburgh Steelers as starters missed a combined 64 games because of injuries. As for the suspensions, those cost wide receiver Martavis Bryant and running back Le’Veon Bell for a combined six games.

That number will grow for Bryant and Bell this year, with the third-year wide receiver already suspended for the 2016 season and Bell reportedly facing a four-game suspension, each for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

What the Steelers hope to avoid, however, is the injuries.

Heading into Thursday’s opening of training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Steelers feel if they can stay more healthy than they did a year ago, a trip to the Super Bowl is a definite possibility.

Considering how close the Steelers feel they were to winning a Super Bowl last season, that might not be an unreasonable goal.

“I really did think given the amount of adversity that we had, I was proud of the way the guys reacted to it all,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said at the conclusion of last season. “And they fought all the way down to it. We had our chances to move on to the AFC Championship Game. That’s a pretty good spot to be in.”

The Steelers would like to move beyond winning one playoff game and having a chance to advance to the AFC Championship as they did last season. To do so, they’ll likely have to stay more healthy. Pittsburgh ended the season with 15 players on injured reserve.

The injury issues began in the preseason when All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey and placekicker Shaun Suisham each were lost for the year, and ended with All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown and Bell and backup running back DeAngelo Williams missing the season-ending 23-16 loss at Denver. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also missed four games and parts of two others.

Despite that, the Steelers went 10-6 in the regular season and beat Cincinnati, 18-16, in a Wildcard game before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Broncos.

Suisham, who tore his ACL in the preseason opener, is among the offseason losses, which also included left tackle Kelvin Beachum and the retirement of longtime tight end Heath Miller. But Bell, Pouncey, Williams and Brown are back and Bell’s availability is in question. The fourth-year running back is appealing the possible four-game suspension, which would come at the beginning of the season. He was suspended for the first two games last season following a 2014 traffic stop in which he was found to be smoking marijuana.

Bell, coming off of a torn MCL and PCL that sidelined him for all but six games in 2015, might have been slowly worked back into the lineup even without the suspension looming. All of the other injured players are expected to be ready for camp Friday.

“I am 26 years old,” said Pouncey, who is returning from a broken leg. “I am doing everything. I don’t need time off. I am ticked off that I’ve missed a lot. I am ready to go.”

Suisham was released last month when his surgically repaired knee didn’t show the improvement needed to continue playing in the league. Miller announced his retirement in February and Matt Spaeth was cut last week, leaving the Steelers with a big hole at that position. Former San Diego tight end Ladarius Green was signed as a free agent.

Bryant, who has 15 touchdowns in 21 career regular season games, was suspended for the 2016 season after skipping a mandatory drug test in the offseason. He missed four games in 2015 for a similar infraction.

His loss is a blow to an offense that, despite the injuries, ranked third in the NFL in total offense.

“Other guys step up. You can’t really replace a guy like that with the tools that he has, his understanding, and his physical attributes,” said Roethlisberger. “It’s hard to replicate that. The other guys have to step up and do it.”

He quickly added one more thing: “And stay healthy.”

The Steelers also have some contract issues they’d like resolve over the next couple of weeks with players heading into the final season of their respective contracts. Negotiations began with Pro Bowl guard David DeCastro on an extension, and getting a deal completed before the season will be a priority.

“Yeah, you think about it,” said DeCastro. “But I let my agent handle that stuff. I’m just focused on playing football once we get to Saint Vincent.”

This year’s training camp also features some special events.

The annual evening practice at Latrobe High School Stadium Aug. 5 will be the site for ESPN’s broadcast of SportsCenter that night. The following week, the Steelers and Detroit Lions will hold joint practices Aug. 9 and 10 at Saint Vincent College prior to their preseason opener Aug. 12 at Heinz Field.

The Steelers will be in Latrobe a much shorter time this year than they were last year when they reported a week early because of their participation in the Hall of Fame Game. The Steelers will have just 14 practices open to the public this year before breaking camp Aug. 16, two days earlier than a year ago.

That won’t leave as much time to sort out any battles, though there aren’t many that need to be settled. Alejandro Villanueva will open as the starter at left tackle with free agent signing Ryan Harris, while Daniel McCullers and rookie Javon Hargrave will compete for the starting spot at nose tackle left open by Steve McLendon’s departure in free agency.

And then there is the secondary.

Veteran Will Allen’s spot at strong safety will be initially held by Robert Golden, though second-round draft pick Sean Davis could push for playing time. William Gay and Ross Cockrell are the only returning cornerbacks with NFL experience. Sorting out the rest of the cornerbacks, including 2015 second-round pick Senquez Golson and 2016 first-round selection Artie Burns, will take time.

“They have to play with each other to get used to the little things they say to each other out there to make sure they’re on the same page,” admitted defensive coordinator Keith Butler. “There’s a nomenclature they have to learn amongst themselves and the only way you can do that is by playing with each other.”

And staying healthy.