Steelers TE James makes most of opportunity

PITTSBURGH — Throughout the course of an NFL season, and certainly in the case of the Steelers this season, an injury to key player is always going to present an opportunity for someone else waiting in the wings. Coach Mike Tomlin has made a point to let his players know that their chance to play isn’t far off, and to be ready when they are called upon.
“I encourage the young guys to not be patient, but to work while they wait, because opportunity is coming,” Tomlin said.
For Steelers rookie tight end Jesse James, that opportunity presented itself in the team’s Week 9 win over the Oakland Raiders. Inactive for the first eight games of the regular season, James caught two passes for 13 yards including his first career touchdown in the Steelers’ 38-35 win.
Since then, James has continued to make the most of his opportunity, pulling in a career-high three passes for 30 yards in Sunday’s 45-10 win over the Colts as he started in place of an injured Heath Miller. In the four games he has played this year, James has caught seven passes for 53 yards and has filled in nicely for not only Miller, but veteran Matt Spaeth missing time with injuries as well.
“He’s been a young guy whose arrow is consistently pointed up,” Tomlin said of Jones. “He’s got more of an opportunity to contribute because of unfortunate circumstances involving Heath and Matt Spaeth. But that’s what the team is about, that’s what this journey is about.”
James, a South Allegheny grad, had the pedigree of a player that could contribute to the Steelers’ offense after collecting 1,005 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in three seasons at Penn State. Still, it was a matter of James finally getting the opportunity and proving himself to his teammates.
“They knew what to expect, but they still had to see it on the field and whether I was true to it,” James said. “Everyone has faith in me that I’m going to be able to go in and there and be productive at the position. Just being able to carry it over from what I’ve done in practice and just get better everyday.”
James has also been the beneficiary of having Miller and Spaeth, two players with a combined 20 seasons of experience to learn from. Miller is a guy James studied growing up and modeled his game after. It’s only fitting that James could be the heir apparent to Miller in the Steelers’ passing game.
“Those guys have been great,” James said. “I couldn’t have been any luckier to come here, and I have two great mentors and teachers.”