Antonio Brown active for Steelers vs. Jaguars
PITTSBURGH – He showed no obvious effects during pre-game warmups from an injured left calf, and Antonio Brown is active for the Pittsburgh Steelers' divisional-round game Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
How recovered the star receiver is, however, remains to be seen.
Wearing a compression sleeve that appeared to have extra padding, Brown sprinted onto the field about an hour before kickoff to join his teammates for warmups.
During the stretching period, a medical trainer worked extensively with Brown pulling and contorting his leg to stretch the injured area. Brown ran through routes and drills and did not appear to be limited.
There was one difference, though, in his routine. In typical games, Brown goes through individual work in which he catches passes on one leg – alternating from left to right – and does toe-tap drills along the sideline. On Sunday, he did not go through that part of his normal preparation.
About an hour and a half prior to kickoff, Steelers players trickled onto the field in sweats to get loose. Brown was not on the field then, perhaps trying to keep the muscle warm. The temperature at kickoff was 18 degrees.
Brown arrived at Heinz Field shortly after 11 a.m. – late for a 1 p.m. start – and then made his way to Pittsburgh’s locker room. Dressed in a black coat and black jeans, Brown carried with him a red duffel bag, with cameras trailing him.
Brown missed two games and will be available for the first time since suffering the injury in a 27-24 Week 15 loss to the New England Patriots.
Brown, who led the NFL with 1,533 receiving yards, had 10 catches for 157 yards against the Jaguars in a 30-9 Steelers loss in Week 5.
Cornerback Artie Burns, defensive end Stephon Tuitt and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave are all active as well.
Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @LorenzoGReyes.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL divisional round