If not for the fact that Heath Miller retired and Matt Spaeth was released with a failed physical, then there is a great deal riding on the shoulders of second-year Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James because of the continuingly uncertain tenure of their top free agent signing, Ladarius Green, who remains on the Physically Unable to Perform List.
Regardless of the fifth-year tight end’s level of participation at the start of the season, or even later on in the year, the fact remains that he is not and has not traditionally been used as the conventional in-line blocking tight end, and that, at least, appears to be one role that James will have to fill.