Pittsburgh Steelers guard James Daniels missed the team’s last two games with a groin injury, but he seems set to return to the lineup this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Daniels was listed as a full participant in the team’s practice on Wednesday, the first time he had done so during a game-week practice since the injury.
In the locker room after practice, Daniels spoke with the media only briefly. He said he needed to hit the training room but felt good after the session, which included work in full pads.
The Steelers had an unusual level of continuity with their offensive line last season, with all five regulars starting all 17 games. That has already been disrupted this season. Daniels has missed two games, and starting left tackle Dan Moore Jr. has missed all of one and most of another.
But the line appears to be returning to health. Moore was back at practice on Wednesday, as well, and while his return to his starting spot seems less certain, the team seemingly will have its five starters available to it this Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Pittsburgh’s struggled to get going up front. The return from Daniels should help the Steelers run the ball and improve slightly in pass protection. Daniels is a solid player who has become one of the steadier players that the team has on the roster. But the team is generally getting healthy, as zero players missed practice on Wednesday leading up to their game against the Rams.
The Steelers are rounding into form on the health side of things, but now that needs to carry over to the field in the second half of the season. But the return of Daniels will help with that, even though he will not magically fix all the issues the team boasts.
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