Mike Wallace Reportedly Set to Return to Pittsburgh Steelers

Update: Monday, August 27 at 3:10 p.m. ET

Mike Wallace will report to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday, via Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com.

Kinkhabwala tweeted on Monday:

"

Two teammates tell me Mike Wallace is/will be on a plane to Pittsburgh tonight and reporting to the Steelers tomorrow.

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) August 27, 2012"

-- End of Update --

Disgruntled Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is reportedly set to end his holdout and rejoin the team in a matter of days.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the following:

"

The Steelers expect that Mike Wallace will arrive back in Pittsburgh this weekend and sign his one-year contract after they return from their third preseason game in Buffalo, multiple sources told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 

"

The report also notes the Steelers’ tradition of not dealing with their players’ contracts during the season. The article explains that Wallace will almost certainly have to iron out the terms of a long-term deal before Sunday, September 9, or play out the season on the $2.742 million, one-year tender.

UPDATE: Monday, August 27 at 11:18 a.m. EST

Mike Wallace is finally expected to report to Steelers camp on Tuesday, August 28, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly.

"

Settle down people. Wallace coming tomorrow now. Doesn't matter because he won't be allowed to practice until Monday anyways

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly_Trib) August 27, 2012"

---END of UPDATE---

Bouchette took to Twitter last week to put Wallace’s holdout in perspective.

"

Mike Wallace's holdout longest for #Steelers in 22 years.sulia.com/my_thoughts/37…

— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) August 17, 2012"

The 26-year-old receiver has recorded over 1,100 receiving yards and been QB Ben Roethlisberger’s most productive target in each of the past two seasons. He caught 72 passes for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns last year.

His speed has made him a dangerous downfield threat, and he caught 18 passes for 20 or more yards last season.

If the team does extend Wallace’s contract, it will have two young and talented wide receivers locked up for the future.

Pittsburgh gave Antonio Brown $42.5 million over five years on July 27, as reported by Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. The 24-year-old showed in his second season that he could be extremely effective, hauling in 69 catches for 1,108 yards.

Brown proved he could put up similar production to Wallace in terms of catches and yards, and he too caught 18 passes for 20 or more yards in 2011. However, he was only able to get into the end zone twice.

These receivers allowed the Steelers to record the 10th-most passing yards in the NFL last season despite having the 19th-most throwing attempts.

Wallace will have his work cut out for him when he returns after missing so much of the team’s preseason. The Steelers will be counting on him to produce at a high level; otherwise it will be difficult for the team’s passing attack to be as effective as it was last season.