Smith-Schuster eager for more slot time

Receiver temporarily sidelined with knee injury

Steelers second-year receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster has a knee injury that has prevented him from participating in any practices this spring, but he expects to be ready to play when the team reports to training camp July 25.

“For sure, especially with this five-week break,” he said. “I’ll be ready.”

Smith-Schuster would not say if he had surgery to repair his knee, but he said the problem developed over time. It bothered him to the point this offseason that he hadto take some time off.

“It’s just something that has been bothering me over time,” Smith-Schuster said. “It kind of adds up. It just let me know I should get it checked out. I got it checked out.”

After trading Martavis Bryant on the first night of the draft, the Steelers need Smith-Schuster to pick up where he left off in his rookie season. He led all rookie receivers with 917 receiving yardsand seven touchdowns. All of that production came while playing just 64 percent ofthe team’s offensive snaps.

By moving up the depth chart to the undisputed No. 2 receiver job, Smith-Schuster’s snaps should increase significantly in 2018.

“We expect him to be even better,” receivers coach Darryl Drake said. “He has a tremendous desire to succeed. I’m looking forward to having the full group [in training camp] and seeing where we can take it.”

Smith-Schuster is looking forward to the increased workload.

“I want it. I love it. That’s why I’m here,” he said. “I love the game. Whatever they put on my shoulders, I’ll carry it and do whatI can do for this team.”

Smith-Schuster became such a reliable player as a rookie because he was effective from the slot and as an outside receiver. According to Pro Football Focus, SmithSchuster led the NFL in yards per slot reception with 19.6. That’s a staggering average for any receiver but especially for a player working from the slot, where quarterbacks usually focus on oneon-one matchups that yield first downs rather than big

— JuJu Smith-Schuster

plays.

Smith-Schuster’s 97-yard touchdown reception against the Detroit Lions came when he was lined up in the slot, where he prefers to do most ofhis work.

“I like playing inside and out, but I love the [physicality] of being in the box with the bigger guys,” he said. “That’s something that’s part ofmy game.”

If the Steelers do use Smith-Schuster more as a slot receiver this season, that would free up rookie secondround pick James Washington to develop first as a deep threat, which is what the Steelers need now that Bryantis no longer on the roster.

While Smith-Schuster doesn’t expect much to change on the field in his second season, much has changed off the field since he wasa wide-eyed rookie.

Smith-Schuster was an anonymous rookie a year ago trying to find his way in the NFL. He’d make impromptu trips to Kennywood. He’d ride his bike to get his favorite Italian Ice. He was, in many ways, a typical 20-year oldin a new city.

These days, after his breakout rookie season, he can’t go anywhere without beingnoticed.

“I stay in my room, lock the door and play video games,” Smith-Schuster said.

“That’s what I do here. When I go grocery shopping — to Giant Eagle or Whole Foods — I go the last 20 minutes so I don’t get bothered.”

Smith-Schuster’s productivity on the field drove his rise to fame, but his fun-loving personality made him a media darling. How can anyone forget the whereabouts of his stolen bike leading the 6 o’clock newscasts last fall? He also was the creative force behind the Steelers’ popular touchdown celebrations, and he engineered much of his own publicity through his active social media accounts.

“You take care of business on the field and everything will take care of itself off the field,” he said. “The marketing, the appearances in the community, charity … it’s awesome we can do all that. It’s changed a lot.”

“I want it. I love it. That’s why I’m here. ... I love the game. Whatever they put on my shoulders, I’ll carry it and do what I can do for this team.”