Matt Spaeth

If the season began today – and, of course, it doesn’t – and/or if Ladarius Green’s surgically-repaired ankle doesn’t improve over the next five weeks… what are the Steelers options at tight end?

Jesse James would start and serve the No. 1 role. Xavier Grimble has been taking practice reps commensurate with a player who’s expected to have a not-insignificant role in the offense. David Johnson will handle duties of a hybrid Matt Spaeth/Will Johnson 2015 version, meaning mostly as a blocker. It appears Nix is being prepped for some traditional tight end-style work, and maybe someone such Mt. Lebanon native Paul Lang steals a roster spot (in lieu of a still-PUP’d Green).

As the story said, the unsettled situation bares watching over the next four weeks through the preseason games and up until the final cutdown day. That's especially true if Green's injury continues to keep him out.