Mitchell returns.

[supafly]

10 offseasons won't make Dorsett a top 4 target in this offense

Nah, but maybe he can catch 30-35 balls and offer some big plays at times as the WR4 or something. A guy can dream, right?

 

[Angelpats]

IMO, WRs need to catch on fast with TFB or they probably never will. They end up in that dreaded Brady doghouse. Which is why wily vets do better with him than athletic freaks and/or youngsters.

It tells us a lot when the receiving group we had a few years back consisting of Dobson , Boyce, Thompkins, Tyms didn’t succeed here or anywhere else really. Sometimes a wr just isn’t good no matter who he plays with.

 

[Oswlek]

Has Mitchell been officially designated? I thought he was allowed to practice a couple of weeks before they had to activate him.

The designation is used to start practicing, from here it'll be Mitchell or nobody.

Unrelated to your post, why does Croston keep coming up as a possible cut? Have those members not looked at the OT depth chart recently?

 

[Patjew]

Who are the WRs who washed out with Brady but went on to have strong careers after that?

That's not what I'm saying. I get the Brady makes medirocre WRs good and good ones very good, etc.

Some WRs he clicks with, others he doesn't.

IMO, Dorsett could be having a much bigger year if TB trusted him more.

 

[VegasGuy]

Has Mitchell been officially designated? I thought he was allowed to practice a couple of weeks before they had to activate him.

They have three weeks from today to decide what to do with him.

 

[TommyD4207]

They have three weeks from today to decide what to do with him.

In theory.

But it sounds like they have more like three days to decide, since they're hoping Mitchell will play Sunday.

 

[farn]

For guys like Harrison & MM : Sunday is the day. I don’t think playoff games is when BB wants to ease players back in. For KVN, Hogan... they’ve already played so Sunday might mean less to them.

Ideally (obv) we’d see many returnees this weekend, then everyone gets a week off to heal further.

 

[VegasGuy]

In theory.

But it sounds like they have more like three days to decide, since they're hoping Mitchell will play Sunday.

I'd love to see MM play Sunday.

 

[Kdo5]

I'm kind of concerned about what's going on with Hogan. Hopefully he is back by the divisional round but wish he could get some of that rust off with some snaps against NYJ.

If we get Mitchell, Hogan and White back on the field, that is a group Brady trusts and feels comfortable with. It is a big drop off from Hogan/Mitchell to Dorsett/Britt.

It would be huge.

 

[supafly]

I'm kind of concerned about what's going on with Hogan. Hopefully he is back by the divisional round but wish he could get some of that rust off with some snaps against NYJ.

If we get Mitchell, Hogan and White back on the field, that is a group Brady trusts and feels comfortable with. It is a big drop off from Hogan/Mitchell to Dorsett/Britt.

It would be huge.

Much more concerned with getting Hogan more time to heal considering how bad he looked at Miami. Sitting him gives him another 3 weeks from last week to the divisional round.

I think some of this talk about rust is a bit overstated. Hogan and Brady are still working in practice. Mitchell is a different case though, since he hasn’t played all season long.

 

[CISGS]

I want Mitchell to play this week and see where he is at. If Brady and him have some chemistry left from last year, he could be huge when they match up with Jacksonville, Pittsburgh or KC.

Malcolm Mitchell is very talented, runs crisp routes and would torch the #3/#4 CBs on most teams.

 

[JarOfMayo51]

I have credible information from an anonymous source that Harrison was planted here by the Steelers as a double operative to spy on Belichick & report back.. possibly even kill Brady if given the chance

 

[TommyD4207]

Much more concerned with getting Hogan more time to heal considering how bad he looked at Miami. Sitting him gives him another 3 weeks from last week to the divisional round.

I think some of this talk about rust is a bit overstated. Hogan and Brady are still working in practice. Mitchell is a different case though, since he hasn’t played all season long.

My hawt taek: If Mitchell is good-to-go Sunday, and looks like Malcolm Mitchell, Hogan goes to IR.

 

[supafly]

My hawt taek: If Mitchell is good-to-go Sunday, and looks like Malcolm Mitchell, Hogan goes to IR.

I dunno. He’s still been practicing on a limited basis and we see him with his jersey on in the video posted from yesterday afternoon. I don’t think that signs like this scream “IR,” but you may be right.

As someone who’s currently in a sling 24/7 due to a broken shoulder, (proximal humerus fracture, as well as collarbone) I can say that today is my 5th week of recovery and I still can’t get dressed/undressed myself, but it has been slowly getting better each week, particularly the past couple of weeks. Considering the fact that Hogan didn’t even break his shoulder and has still missed 6/7 past games, I’d be surprised if he were suddenly IR’ed when he has 3 more weeks to go between games if you count from last Sunday. By the divisional round, he’ll have close to 10 weeks of rest and recovery. I think they would’ve IR’ed him a couple of weeks ago, maybe after the Miami game, but who knows? You could be right.

If we do end up losing Hogan for the postseason, I would consider that to be a huge blow, as I believe that he’s been a big reason as to why the wide receivers are struggling a bit over the past few games.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Mitchell would be a great addition. He needs to re-establish himself but he can definitely be the “drive starter” that the offense needs.

Dorsett is the odd guy out - he’s been getting tons of reps but Brady just doesn’t throw him the ball.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I'd love to see MM play Sunday.

I see your point (get MM some in game reps ASAP) but the other side of it is the advantage of getting a few weeks of MM at practice without taking a roster spot.

Unless there is an immediate need (Hogan's health outlook is deteriorating) or BB/JM's plan going forward is to carry 6 WRs, there is benefit to go through the Jets game then reassess the general WRs health status while also assessing MM from a practice view only.
His practice demo this week as well as the general WR health status after the game may necessitate MM's activation right away. That's a nice bit of flexibility heading into the playoffs.

 

[resdubwhite]

Great to see him back. Just at the right time too.

 

[PScottman]

The Steelers are insanely good at finding WR talent out of nowhere, we're really good at finding RB talent out of nowhere.

I don't disagree in total, but the Steelers WR stable over the years isn't all roses and sunshine. While they may find athletic specimens, they also find a lot of guys who drop a lot of balls - particularly in clutch moments. I would posit it's more quantity than quality frankly.

 

[supafly]

I dunno. He’s still been practicing on a limited basis and we see him with his jersey on in the video posted from yesterday afternoon. I don’t think that signs like this scream “IR,” but you may be right.

As someone who’s currently in a sling 24/7 due to a broken shoulder, (proximal humerus fracture, as well as collarbone) I can say that today is my 5th week of recovery and I still can’t get dressed/undressed myself, but it has been slowly getting better each week, particularly the past couple of weeks. Considering the fact that Hogan didn’t even break his shoulder and has still missed 6/7 past games, I’d be surprised if he were suddenly IR’ed when he has 3 more weeks to go between games if you count from last Sunday. By the divisional round, he’ll have close to 10 weeks of rest and recovery. I think they would’ve IR’ed him a couple of weeks ago, maybe after the Miami game, but who knows? You could be right.

If we do end up losing Hogan for the postseason, I would consider that to be a huge blow, as I believe that he’s been a big reason as to why the wide receivers are struggling a bit over the past few games.

Just looked up the recovery times for AC sprains with possible ligament damage, and it seems as though most can heal on their own with sling stabilization and do not require surgery. If Hogan were going to require surgery now, I think it’s safe to say that he’d have it and been placed on IR, especially after the Miami game where he may have had a setback or aggravated it even further.

Most sites have the maximum recovery time for the most severe AC sprain without need for immediate surgery (grade 3) as 6-12 weeks, so he’s already missed 6/7 games and a bye week (7/8 past weeks), with the potential to add another 3 weeks from last Sunday to the divisional round.

Of course, it’s possible that they could choose to wait until the AFCCG or even the additional 2 more weeks after for the SB (2 postseason byes), should it be on the worst end of it, but the fact that he hasn’t had surgery or been IR’ed yet and continues to receive practice reps sounds like they are optimistic that he should be back for the postseason. Just one guy’s guess.

 

[supafly]

I don't disagree in total, but the Steelers WR stable over the years isn't all roses and sunshine. While they may find athletic specimens, they also find a lot of guys who drop a lot of balls - particularly in clutch moments. I would posit it's more quantity than quality frankly.

Plus they run an entirely different system with less responsibilities, so that needs to be taken into account, too.