Steelers WR Rogers (knee) returns

Wide receiver Eli Rogers of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who has been out since sustaining a torn ACL in his right knee during a 45-42 divisional round playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in January, has been cleared to practice, the Steelers announced on Wednesday.

Rogers must be either activated by the Steelers or placed on injured reserve by Dec. 19.

Although the Steelers did not tender Rogers a restricted free agent contract offer during the offseason, he signed on the first day of training camp, July 25, and was placed on the preseason PUP list.

Rogers also was suspended one week for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.

The 25-year-old Rogers was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of Louisville in 2016 and was Pittsburgh's No. 2 receiver as a rookie with 48 receptions for 594 yards and three touchdowns.

However, he was replaced by JuJu Smith-Schuster as the Steelers' No. 2 wide receiver last season, when he made only 18 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown.

Even should Rogers show he is ready to play, he probably would have trouble finding playing time, as the Steelers are well-stocked at wide receiver with Antonio Brown, Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Ryan Switzer, Justin Hunter and Darrius Heyward-Bey.