https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2 ... nate-year/The prospects of Ben Roethlisberger‘s return from a season-ending shoulder injury was one of the chief topics of General Manager Kevin Colbert’s meeting with the media on Thursday, but it wasn’t the only one concerning hopes for better things for a key offensive player in 2020.
Running back James Conner dealt with shoulder and thigh injuries that kept him from playing in six games and caused him to miss time in a couple of others during the 2019 season. His production when healthy was down a bit from 2018 as well, but Colbert said the team still believes that Conner can get back to his previous form.
“James Conner had a disappointing season in James Conner’s viewpoint and ours, as well,” Colbert said, via Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “Our point to James was, ‘You had an unfortunate year.’ The year before that he was one of the best in the league. He’s still a young player. We think there’s something there. We know there’s talent there. We hope James can regain it. And, if he’s healthy, there’s no reason he shouldn’t. We don’t want to say we don’t have a starting running back because we feel we do.”
Colbert said he also hopes for a healthier season for wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Vance McDonald as the Steelers try to find their way back to a winning record next season.
Like I told my son's 7th grade football team, "Can't help my team standing on the sidelines, boys"
I'm no doctor but I do subscribe to the floated theory that Conner maybe more susceptible to injuries to due the impact of his cancer and treatment.
I've long pulled for him to be an NFL success but honestly if Colbert and the Steelers are counting on Conner to stay healthy for an entire NFL season I think theyre slightly delusional or cockeyed optimists.
There's a strong top 5 group of running backs in the upcoming draft I think Steelers can agree upon that would really help rejuvenate an inept rushing attack....an attack that our qbs surgically repaired throwing elbow could surely benefit from.
1) DeAndre Swift- My 'Dawgs
2) Clyde Helarie Edwards- Knife's National Champs
3.) JK Dobbins- “all day JK”
4.) Jonathan Taylor- 1st to rush for 6K in first 3 seasons
5). Cam Akers- Free Shoe U
Bonus: Zach Moss- Utes
Bonus 2: Eno Benjamin
I know the Steelers aren't taking a rb with an early pick. Colbert pretty much just told me that in his statements above, but I still think it's a really weak unit.