Behind the Steel Curtain
Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz suffered what appeared to be a significant chest injury in Pittsburgh’s Saturday preseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kuntz missed the rest of the game. The Steelers signed a second long snapper on Monday. And Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly reported that Kuntz had broken his sternum – something that could keep him out “several weeks to months.”
A new report from Steelers Now’s Alan Saunders, as well as recent comments from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, makes it sound like the recovery timeline should be closer to weeks than months.
“After practice Kuntz told Steelers Now that the injury is painful, but said he’s confident he’ll be able to return for Week 1,” Saunders wrote on Monday, adding that Kuntz was on the practice field shagging footballs for his teammates despite the injury.
Asked about Kuntz’s status in his Monday press conference, Mike Tomlin added that Kuntz’s injury was “more short term.”
The fact that the long snapper hasn’t been placed on injured reserve despite a second at his position being added to the team is already a good sign. With the Steelers on a short week, there’s a strong possibility the Steelers brought in Jake McQuaide just for their final preseason game, and Kuntz will still make the final 53-man roster.
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