Report: JuJu Smith-Schuster’s Knee Health a Concern

The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed extensive receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster final week, however one NFL insider studies there are considerations concerning the 24-year-old’s long-term well being.

In a bit breaking down the important thing free company strikes for all 32 groups, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that a number of sources imagine Smith-Schuster’s well being is a query mark with knee illnesses which have lingered over the past two seasons.

Smith-Schuster missed at the very least a apply per week final season with the lingering knee points, however was obtainable for each sport in the course of the 2020 season.

In accordance with Fowler’s sources, he “obtained frequent remedy for knee-related points,” which has raised the considerations concerning his sturdiness into the long run.

Nonetheless, Fowler spoke with Smith-Schuster’s agent Kim Miale, who reiterated that no golf equipment expressed considerations concerning the wideout’s well being in the course of the free company course of.

Whereas some may query Miale’s proximity to the state of affairs, the first cause Smith-Schuster returns to Pittsburgh was that the extensive receiver market dried up league-wide, not due to well being considerations.

That being mentioned, the Steelers know extra about Smith-Schuster’s well being than anybody. They did solely signal him to a one-year deal, however that’s doubtless extra associated to his need to enter free company once more and the membership waiting for 2022 when the wage cap is anticipated to balloon.

Smith-Schuster led the Steelers with 97 receptions in 2020, whereas additionally tallying 831 yards and 9 touchdowns. Chosen within the second spherical of the 2017 NFL Draft out of USC, Smith-Schuster has 293 receptions, 3,565 yards and 24 touchdowns as a Steeler. He was chosen to his first and solely Professional Bowl in 2018.