Stephon Tuitt provides example for Steelers' Devin Bush on bouncing back from season-ending injury

If Devin Bush needs inspiration for how to rebound from a season-ending injury, all he has to do is look at two of the players who line up in front of him on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense.

When the second-year inside linebacker tore an ACL against the Cleveland Browns, it ended his season prematurely, much like it did for Cameron Heyward in 2016 and Stephon Tuitt in 2019. Those injuries were different — Heyward and Tuitt suffered torn pectoral muscles — but their frustration and disappointment cut just as deep.

“Any injury is sad,” Tuitt said. “We all come out to perform. That is our job, to play for the organization week in and week out and do what we love and are passionate about. When you’re not able to do it because of injuries, it’s a toll.”

It certainly was on Tuitt, who had 3 1/2 sacks through five games last year before leaving his sixth game early against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was the first extended absence for Tuitt, who was in the midst of his sixth season for the Steelers.

Although Tuitt had a few more years of experience than Bush, he can empathize with the long rehabilitation process that awaits the young linebacker.

“He’s going to have to go through a recovery journey, and we’re all going to be there to support him,” Tuitt said. “If he needs us for anything, we’ll be there to guide him and give him our resources so when he comes back next year, he’ll come back stronger and faster.”

Such was the case for Tuitt, who arguably is off the best start of his career. As the Steelers (5-0) prepare to face the Tennessee Titans (5-0) in a matchup on the AFC’s two remaining unbeaten teams, Tuitt is third on the team with four sacks and second with 12 quarterback hits.

Against the Browns, Tuitt had five tackles, combined with Bush on a sack, two quarterback hits and forced a fumble. It was the fourth time in five games he had at least a half sack.

“If he had stayed healthy last year, I think we would have gotten the same thing we are getting out of him this year,” defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. “He is playing well for us. All those front guys have a lot of pride in what they are doing, how our defensive is playing. They want everyone to play well around them, and they try to do their job as good as they can.

“Stephon, certainly, has been doing that.”

What benefited Tuitt in his return from the torn pec muscle was being able to turn to Heyward for advice. Heyward suffered an identical injury seven games into the 2016 season. Tuitt, though, tried to forge his own path.

“I never put myself in somebody else’s shoes,” he said. “That was their journey. My journey is to take it one game at a time, and when I looked up, it’s the end of the season.”

Being away from his teammates for more than half of a season gave Tuitt an appreciation for his love of football and how much he had to lose by not being able to play.

“When you get injured, you have more time to look within and have an opportunity to see and reevaluate your life,” he said. “That is how I took it. It was an opportunity to reevaluate and get the chance to realize how blessed I am in my position and look at things I can get better at. I think that’s the exciting component if you want to look at a positive side of coming back from those injuries.”

As a concession to Tuitt’s injury, coach Mike Tomlin has given him the past few Wednesdays off from practice. It’s a luxury afforded to veterans such as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey.

Tuitt called it a “maintenance” day, and it’s one of the steps he has taken to ensure he will make it through this season healthy.

“It’s being consistent and being on the field,” he said. “You can’t control what football gives. What I can control is my output and what I do off the field and what I do before games. That’s what I’ve been doing a great job of this year.”