May 27, 2018 By Jim Wexell For The 5 min read

PITTSBURGH — In the three years and three months since he tore his ACL to begin his career slide to the couch, Stevan Ridley had gained 97 yards on 39 carries without scoring a touchdown.

But he got off that couch last year, got in shape, signed with the Steelers as a replacement for an injured James Conner, and was fed the ball 17 times in the regular-season finale against Cleveland as a sub for a resting Le’Veon Bell.

Ridley gained 80 yards, and even scored a touchdown. He also popped loose for a 21-yard gain, his longest run since the 43-yarder the week before his catastrophic injury in 2014.

Yawns around Pittsburgh, of course, following the meaningless game.

And more yawns when Ridley was signed back to a one-year, minimum-wage deal.

But he’s been given his old number, 22, which he wore during his championship heyday with the New England Patriots. That and the big game late last season should be signs that his career rejuvenation will continue.

Is he hopeful?

“It felt good to get back out there last year,” Ridley, 29, said Wednesday upon the completion of OTA 2. “But honestly, I’m going to leave last year with last year.”

When pressed, when reminded that 17 carries for 80 yards was something of a landmark for mere mortals, Ridley warmed up.

“I did enough to get a call back here. Yeah, that’s huge. Got a job, man. That’s how I’m looking at it this year.”

But I’m not going to sit on last year too much. It was a confidence boost to get off the couch, come back in, run the ball a little bit and then get a call back to come in in 2018, so I’m just trying to come in here and be as productive as possible.”

It might be the timing that’s the most important part about any production from Ridley, because it appears Bell is careening toward a repeat of last season when he refused to sign his franchise tender, stayed out of spring practice, and training camp, and reported for work the week of the opener.

And then he struggled. Bell gained 32 yards on 10 carries in the opener, and 87 on 27 carries in the win over Minnesota. The Week 3 loss to Chicago saw Bell increase his per-carry average, but he gained only 61 yards on 15 carries.

It was three weeks of running that was unbefitting a back of Bell’s All-Pro stature. He had a 3.5-yard per carry average and the team had a loss.

Why will 2018 be any different?

We all know that line about history repeating, and so this year the Steelers appear better prepared.

Last year the Steelers had only a third-round draft pick in Conner and an unproven, undrafted street free agent in Terrell Watson. They combined for 24 yards on seven carries while Bell struggled through those first three games.

This year, the upgrade includes Conner, Ridley, fifth-round draft pick Jaylen Samuels, and intriguing free agents James Summers (6-3, 210) and Jarvion Franklin (6-0, 239). They have veteran Fitzgerald Toussaint, as well. But it’s Conner and Samuels who are getting most of the attention.

Conner showed up in such great shape that Mike Tomlin was taunting some of the onlooking Pitt players that they need to get as “lean and tailored” as Conner. And Samuels has enjoyed two impressive practices, even flashed with a touchdown catch in Seven Shots that drew a strong response from the sideline.

“Jaylen has good hands out of the backfield and runs really good routes,” said quarterback Landry Jones. “I was surprised by that.”

“Soft hands,” said Ridley. “He’s learning. He’s picking up the playbook. He’s fitting in the room well. I like him.”

“It was a fade route from the outside,” said Samuels, the 6-0, 225-pounder out of North Carolina State. “They motioned me out from the backfield to get a little mismatch on either a corner or a ‘backer. It was a ‘backer, luckily for me, and I just went up and made a play.”

It’s what Samuels did in college, and it’s what he’ll need to continue doing to make this team. But would he be ready for the opener? Because the guy getting the ball fourth in line this spring — “I like batting cleanup,” Ridley said with a smile — is looking like he has that perfect blend of youth and experience for a championship-caliber team looking for a top backup. Ridley can both run and pick up blitzes, something that cost Conner playing time last season.

“You’ve got to protect the $100 million man back there,” Ridley said. “As I learned in previous organizations, you can’t let that guy get touched. That’s an advantage I have being in this league and being on a few different teams and learning different blocking schemes and seeing different looks and playing some big-time football. That’s a definite attribute I have. But each and every year you still have to get better, you still have to get comfortable, you still have to learn that system and know who you have, where you’re supposed to be, and the timing of this offense.”

And you have to run the ball. Ridley appears to still have that ability.

“I feel young, I feel fresh, and I really am excited to be back in the locker room with a group of guys and be on an organization that’s successful,” he said. “So I’m just coming in trying to work every day, and every day that you get me out here I’m full go.

“I’ve got a rookie mentality, man. I’m coming in to work and I’m coming in trying to gain as many reps as possible.”

A rookie mentality with a veteran’s experience. That makes Ridley the perfect back with whom the Steelers might ease into a season as their All-Pro finds his sea legs. Again.