Steelers' Smith-Schuster 'trending toward playing' vs. Chiefs

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster reportedly 'trending toward playing' in wild-card game vs. Chiefs

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated Jan 14, 2022 11:20 AM ET

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster hasn't suited up for a game in over three months. After making his long-awaited return to practice on Thursday, the chances of the former Pro Bowler playing in the team's AFC wild-card game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night seem to be increasing.

Injury updates:
— No issues at all for #AZCardinals DL JJ Watt after yesterday’s practice, which went very well. He’s trending toward playing.
— No issues at all for #Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster after yesterday’s practice, which went well. He’s trending toward playing, too.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 14, 2022

The 25-year-old was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury following the team's Week 5 win against the Denver Broncos and finished the regular season with 15 receptions for 129 yards prior to his injury. In 63 career games, Smith-Schuster has posted 323 catches for 3,855 receiving yards and 26 touchdowns.

The 2017 second-round draft pick's best season came in 2018, when he made the Pro Bowl after setting career-highs in receptions (111) and receiving yards (1,426). In 2020, Smith-Schuster recorded a career-best nine touchdown receptions.

The Steelers leading receiver this season was third-year pro Diontae Johnson, who posted 107 receptions for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns on 169 targets, all of which led the team.

Victor Barbosa

Victor Barbosa is a passionate follower of MLB, the NBA and NFL, with a deep interest in Boston-area teams. He graduated from Springfield College -- The Birthplace of Basketball -- in 2013 with a degree in Communications-Sports Journalism. Previous bylines include FanSided, Heavy and Syracuse

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