Antonio Brown to return from injury in time for Steelers’ 1st playoff game

The Steelers will get their star receiver back just in time for the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers got a massive relief when they clinched a first-round bye, because it gave wide receiver Antonio Brown an extra week to recover from his calf injury. Sure enough, Brown returned to practice Monday and plans to start in the Steelers’ Divisional Round opener against the Jaguars, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Brown suffered a torn calf muscle in Week 15 against the New England Patriots, when his leg got awkwardly bent while he tried to make a touchdown catch. It initially had the looks of a season-ending injury when Brown spent several minutes on the turf, but the Steelers avoided a worst-case scenario. Brown missed the final two weeks of the regular season, but the bye week gave him extra time to rest.

Before the injury, Brown was on his way to a potential MVP campaign. Despite playing just 14 games, he still led the NFL with 1,533 receiving yards and reached 100 catches for the fifth straight season. His impeccable chemistry with Ben Roethlisberger makes him possibly the most dangerous receiver in the game, and an irreplaceable cog in the Steelers’ offense.

Brown’s return gives the Steelers a much-needed jolt as they attempt to make a Super Bowl run. He’ll be facing off against Jalen Ramsey (who had a stellar playoff debut) and A.J. Bouye, which should make for a highly competitive afternoon of football.