When the Steelers drafted Demarcus Ayers in the seventh round and noted he was an accomplished punt returner the immediate question was if the Steelers truly were interested in relieving Antonio Brown of those duties.
In fact, head coach Mike Tomlin was asked exactly that when he met with reporters immediately following the conclusion of the seventh round earlier this month.
“I’m not concerned preserving Antonio Brown,” Tomlin said. “He is up for the challenge.”
Today, second-year receiver Eli Rogers confirmed what everyone had suspected all along. The Steelers would like to find another punt returner.
“Yeah, they let it be known,” Rogers said today after the third and final practice of the week. “Coach Tomlin is a straight-forward guy. They let us know what it is.”
Rogers, who spent last season on injured reserve with a foot injury, is one of the candidates to fill that role along with Ayers.
When Ayers was drafted the Steelers had special teams coach Danny Smith come to the media room to speak with reporters, not receivers coach Richard Mann. That was a tip-off right there.
Smith then praised Ayers and told reporters he was the team’s top-ranked punt returner.
When Smith was asked about Rogers and whether he was in contention for the job as punt returner, he said: “Eli Rogers is in the mix. Eli Rogers is in the building, Eli Rogers has a pair of Steelers shorts so he thinks he is a Steeler but I have yet to see him in a game. He’s a suspect at this time. We’ll see.”
Rogers said Thursday he was unaware of Smith’s comments, but he welcomes the challenge from Smith, if that indeed was Smith’s intention.
“I am a suspect,” he said. “No one knows who I am. That’s cool. I ain’t trippin’.”
Smith let it be known he’d love to have Brown remain as the punt returner, but acknowledged the selection of Ayers might change their thinking if he proves he is worthy of making the team. Or if Rogers does the same.
“I’d love Antonio Brown back there,” Smith said after the draft. “What we will do with it is we will see as the season progresses.”
First Published: May 26, 2016, 5:30 p.m.
