CB Golson still a rookie in 3rd year

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It was shoulder surgery in 2015 and then a Lisfranc foot surgery that knocked him out all last season, although the Steelers kept him on the 53-man roster with hopes he could recover and still play until he went on injured reserve Oct. 8.

He has since added 12 pounds, weighing in at 188 on his 5-foot-9 frame and says his expectations for 2017 are to “stay healthy.” He said the extra weight came naturally and neither that nor his foot injury have hurt his speed or quickness.

“At this point, the only thing I’m missing is ingame experience,” he said. “I pretty much have the basics down. I don’t feel any hitch, no falloff, nothing like that.”

Golson is aware of comments by general manager Kevin Colbert, who raised doubts early this year about his ability to bounce back from it all.

“Through no fault of his own, he has been injured two years in a row,’’ Colbert said. “And in all honesty, I worry about a defensive back coming off of a foot injury because you don’t know what he’s going to be like and we won’t know until we get into the OTAs and minicamps, and things of that nature.”

So Golson is here, practicing mostly in the slot he said, trying to show he can overcome missing the past two seasons.

“That’s the reality, just like if any other guy missed two years,” he said. “That’s the reality of it. I’m just going to do what I got to do.”

The slot is still up for grabs but there is competition. Artie Burns enters his second season as a starter along with Ross Cockrell, both on the outside also in substitute passing defenses. William Gay moved into the slot full time in 2016 after Burns took his starting job. The Steelers signed veteran Coty Sensabaugh as a free agent to possibly play the position. Plus, they drafted cornerbacks in the third and fifth round this year.

“I don’t know for sure who starts where. I’m just working where they’re asking me,’’ Golson said. “Mostly inside, some outside. Right now I’m at ‘2’ nickel.”

Golson had two screws inserted in his foot during the surgery last year, then had them removed the day after the Super Bowl because they bothered him.

“My foot and the screws kind of disagreed,” he said. “My foot is fully healed.”

It was an unusual time for Golson.

“Never in my life — ever — never missed a season, never missed time, never had an injury, never had surgery,” he said. “This is all new to me, but it’s kind of gotten familiar.” He wants to return to the old familiar. “Healthy,” Golson said, “I’m still the same guy they drafted.”

“Never in my life — ever — never missed a season, never missed time, never had an injury, never had surgery. This is all new to me, but it’s kind of gotten familiar.” Senquez Golson

Tuitt has surgery

Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt had recent surgery on his hand, according to a source, and has not practiced this week at OTAs.

The surgery, however, should not affect him in the regular season.

Tuitt is entering the fourth and final year of his contract, and the Steelers are expected to try to sign him to a new, multiyear deal before the start of the season.