Ladarius Green Injury: Updates on Steelers TE's Ankle, Headaches and Return

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Ladarius Green has recovered from March ankle surgery and headaches that have kept him off the field and landed him on the PUP list. He has since been activated off the PUP list and is ready to return.

Continue for updates.

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Green Active vs. Cowboys

Sunday, Nov. 13

The Steelers announced Green is available to play in Week 10 against the Dallas Cowboys.

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Latest on Green's Practice Status

Friday, Nov. 11

Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Green was a full participant in Friday's practice.

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Green Comments on Status

Monday, Oct. 24

Green stated he had been medically cleared but had yet to be cleared by head coach Mike Tomlin on Oct. 24, per Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Green told reporters he ran routes at 80 percent speed, separate from the rest of the team at practice Oct. 20.

"Coach hasn't felt like there's been a need for me to (practice), and I'm not gonna argue with that," Green said Oct. 20, per Adamski.

He added that he felt his ankle, not his head, was holding him back, per Jacob Klinger of PennLive.com. Green told reporters he felt like he could have played in October but would defer to coaches about when he'd return.

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Tomlin Comments on Green's Timeline

Tuesday, Oct. 18

Tomlin wouldn't cement a specific return date for Green ahead of Week 7, per Fittipaldo:

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I haven't looked at those considerations yet. I've been talking about more pressing issues, in terms of guys who are dealing with more current issues in terms of a health standpoint. I'm sure I'm going to have that meeting at some point [Tuesday] afternoon and look at his status and make a determination of what we’re going to do with him, from a practice standpoint. The position that he's in, he's now eligible to start the practice process. And then, we're given a window to determine whether or not we utilize him.

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"He's not ready to go," Tomlin said Sept. 6, per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Don't know when he will be."

On Aug. 12, Tomlin said Green was on the PUP list because of his ankle injury, and while he wasn't ready to play yet, Green had "gotten better in that area," per ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler.

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Latest on Green's Return Timeline

Sunday, Oct. 16

CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora, citing sources, reported that Green was "poised to be activated off the PUP list soon."

Green said Aug. 20 he had no timetable to return, per Mark Kaboly of DKPittsburghSports.com. Green confirmed he remained on the PUP list as a result of his ankle, according to Kaboly.

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Green Comments on His Rehab

Monday, Aug. 29

Klinger spoke with Green regarding his recovery, with the tight end noting he had been doing squats with weights on his back.

"Up to that point, I'd just been doing body-weight stuff, squatting and stuff," Green told Klinger. "I hadn't had any weight on my back."

Klinge added that Green had begun jumping, and the tight end said he did not have a timetable for his return:

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I mean if you ask me that question I would say – I don't know. Of course I'm going to say I want to play, but we don't know how good it is. I don't want to go out there and hurt the team because I'm not ready. But it's getting close.

I'm still taking it day by day, but it's getting close though.

"

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Green Reportedly Not Considering Retirement

Thursday, Aug. 18

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported that despite the uncertain status of Green and his headaches, it would not be severe enough to force him into retirement:

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Green Reportedly Dealing with Headaches

Thursday, Aug. 11

Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com, citing a member of the Steelers organization, reported Green had "recurring headaches." Green's agent told Kinkhabwala that Green's ankle was fine but would not elaborate on what was keeping Green off the field.

According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Green didn't tell the Steelers about the headache issue prior to his signing.

Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Green suffered a concussion in December 2014 before suffering two in 11 days in September 2015.

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Green Was Slated to Be Vital Piece of Pittsburgh's Offense

Green was durable over the past three years and played in 43 of 48 games during that span. He also posted a career-high four touchdowns last season for the San Diego Chargers as a dangerous red-zone threat at 6'6", 240 pounds.

Still, he has dealt with various setbacks throughout his career, including concussions and ankle concerns.

Green has the potential to be an important piece of the Steelers attack in 2016 now that he's back in action.