Oct 22, 2015 3 min read

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Offensive tackle Mike Adams made an appearance in the locker room today and said he is progressing in his rehab from a back injury that landed him on the PUP List to start the season.

Adams, who had back surgery in the week before training camp began, was eligible to resume practicing this week but is not quite ready. He said he has not timetable on a return – though he must be activated by Week 11 or be placed on injured reserve or be given his release.

Adams said he has a lot of faith in new left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, who will replace injured Kelvin Beachum, saying that there’s nothing on the football field that can test Villanueva – a former Army Ranger who served three tours in Afghanistan – as he has been tested in life.

@ Cornerback Antwon Blake was not listed among the injured Tuesday by Mike Tomlin but has a cast on his left hand.

Blake will likely play on Sunday but might have to have the cast changed out, much the same way tight end Matt Spaeth did for his broken hand.

The issue, apparently, for Blake is a thumb.

I spoke with Brandon Boykin after practice and he said he’s not sure why he’s not playing and hasn’t spoken with anyone on the coaching staff regarding his status in a while.

Boykin hasn’t logged a defensive snap in any of the past three weeks and has played just 12 defensive snaps all season – 11 of which came against San Francisco.

Will Blake be able to play this week? Possibly. Should he play? That’s questionable.

With an offensively challenged team such as Kansas City, I’d be tempted to play Boykin and see what happens.

Though the Steelers are fifth in scoring defense, they’ve given up some passing yards – not that it really matters since scoring is the best defensive statistic.

The Chiefs have 12 TDs this season, five of which were scored by Jamaal Charles. And he’s done for the year.

@ Ben Roethlisberger wanted to increase his practice workload and did that today according to a number of teammates.

Does that mean he’s ready to start?

No. But that will be played out over the next couple of days.

Roethlisberger looked good according to Landry Jones, who would start if Roethlisberger can’t go, but so did Jones according to a number of teammates.

@ WR Jeremy Maclin (concussion), DE Mike DeVito (concussion) and linebackers Tamba Hali (knee) and Ramik Wilson (knee) did not practice Wednesday for the Cheifs. All but Wilson are starters.

Linebacker Justin Houston (elbow) was limited.

@ Running back Le’Veon Bell failed to catch a pass for the Steelers in their last game for the first time in his career.

It obviously bothered him.

“I knew it would happen sometime,” said Bell. “Hopefully, it doesn’t happen often.”

Bell said it wasn’t anything in particular that the Cardinals were doing, he just wasn’t used.

@ If Roethlisberger isn’t ready to play or be the team’s No. 2 QB – which is a possibility – look for Tyler Murphy to be activated off the practice squad.

The Steelers just don’t have the time to get another quarterback ready to play.