The Pittsburgh Steelers special teams are on a roll. A featured piece is poised to rejoin the unit.
Special-teams standout and inside linebacker Tyler Matakevich returned to practice Thursday, the team announced. The 31-year-old, nine-year NFL veteran has not played since a Sept. 15 win at Denver because of a hamstring injury.
Matakevich was placed on injured reserve two days later and has fulfilled the required four games missed since. His return to practice opens a 21-day window in which he must be put back on the active roster or he cannot play again this season.
Matakevich has a reputation as one of the top special-teams players in football. Originally drafted by the Steelers in 2015, he played four seasons for the Buffalo Bills before returning to the Steelers via free agency this summer.
The Steelers have blocked four kicks (albeit one was overturned by penalty) over the past three games.
