Oct 25, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Steelers backup quarterback Zach Mettenberger let the pass fly and the big receiver flashed open, catching the ball 20 yards before he crossed the goal line.

The whistle immediately blew to end the Steelers’ practice session Tuesday with that exclamation point by tight end Ladarius Green.

“That was just a good throw by Zach and I got a chance to catch it,” said Green.

Green might have been downplaying things a bit. The fact he was on the football field working with the Steelers for the first time since signing a 4-year, $20-million contract as a free agent could not be understated.

The Steelers (4-3) would love to finally have their big offseason free agent acquisition on the field for the second half of this season.

Just as important as Green catching passes in practice was from whom he was catching them.

Not only was he a target of backups Landry Jones and Mettenberger, but starter Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger, who missed Sunday’s 27-16 loss to New England after having minor knee surgery last week, was a partial participant yesterday, throwing the ball in some drills.

“I got a chance to work with Ben, Zach and Landry, so it was pretty good,” Green said.

Good news for the Steelers, who are on a bye and don’t play again until Nov. 6, when they travel to Baltimore.

Having Roethlisberger and Green on the field together would be a big boost to Pittsburgh’s offense.

Green, who has averaged 14.1 yards per catch during his four-year NFL career, was signed in the offseason to offset the loss of longtime tight end Heath Miller, who retired in February. His signing also came days before it was announced that receiver Martavis Bryant would be suspended for the entire 2016 season for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

“He’s made a great career so far making big plays, being able to work the seams,” said Steelers tight end Jesse James of Green. “In a West Coast offense, he was able to get up the field. He adds another vertical threat, which is huge.”

Green played through an ankle injury last season in San Diego that got progressively worse as the season wore on and eventually required surgery. The Steelers knew he would miss all offseason workouts when they signed him but the rehab process didn’t go as quickly as they and Green had hoped in training camp. He was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list to open the season.

That meant he could not play in the first six games and considering he had never gone through a single practice with his new teammates, bringing him back last week before the game against the Patriots would have been a stretch.

The Steelers have 21 days for Green to practice before they have to place him on the active roster.

Regardless, Tuesday was a big day for Green, kind of like Christmas in October.

“It kind of was,” Green said. “I was excited, a little bit nervous. I was excited to be out there with the fellas. They’ve been supporting me the whole time, even though I wasn’t playing.”

The same could be said of the possibility of getting Roethlisberger back.

The Steelers’ Pro Bowl quarterback suffered an injury to the meniscus in his left knee in a loss two weeks ago at Miami and had surgery the next day. The prognosis was for him to be out two to three weeks, which would put him on schedule to return against Baltimore. But he said last week it could take as long as four to six weeks.

Practicing yesterday, even on a limited basis, was a big first step. But Roethlisberger would like to be a full participant at some point before facing the Ravens.

“Typically, I would say no, but it would be nice because I need to know what I can and can’t do,” Roethlisberger said on his weekly call in to KDKA-FM. “Mentally, no. I don’t need it. But physically, just to know what I’m capable of doing. I think in this situation, it would be smart to get a good, full practice in.”

Odds and end zones

Green changed his number from 80 to 89. … The Steelers are ranked 10th in the league in total offense and 27th in total defense. But in scoring offense and defense, they are 11th and 13th, respectively. … The Steelers will practice today before the players are given Thursday through Sunday off for the bye week.