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THIS BUD'S IN VIEW:** Linebacker Bud Dupree is ready to play but has yet to be given the go-ahead to do so on Sunday in Cleveland.

"I'm good," said Dupree, who is waiting to come off the Reserve Injured/Designated For Return list.

Defensive coordinator Keith Butler has liked what he's seen from Dupree at practice this week.

"He did some stuff today and looked good doing it," Butler said.

As for whether Dupree is ready to play against the Browns, "That's not up to me," Butler continued. "It's up to the head man (head coach Mike Tomlin). The head man always decides on those type of injuries and when they come back, so I'll leave that up to him.

"There's a double-whammy. This is (Dupree's) second year in the league. This is not his fifth year or sixth year in the league where he can come back and automatically know everything that's going on. He's still in a learning situation. We'll have to see as we go with him."

Butler said he hasn't contemplated how the Steelers might deploy five outside linebackers upon Dupree's return.

"I'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Butler said. "I'm not worried about it right now. I'm more worried about trying to win a football game. Everybody's interested in Bud coming back, as I am. But at the same time we gotta work with the guys who are going to play on Sunday and try to win a football game, that's primary."

HIM AGAIN: Running back Le'Veon Bell saw a lot of linebacker Jamie Collins when the Steelers played the Patriots on Oct. 23.

Now that Collins has taken up residence in Cleveland after being traded by New England, Bell anticipates seeing a lot of Collins again.

"I definitely think I will," Bell said. "They probably saw the film of when we played the Patriots of how he covered me and things like that. I'll see a lot of him."

Bell had 21 carries for 81 yards rushing and 10 catches for 68 yards receiving the first time out against Collins.

"He's a good 'backer, you have to give him his credit," Bell said. "He's definitely a good player. It's going to be good going against him again."

JUST A LITTLE BIT: It's not just the defense that will have to compensate for the loss of defensive end Cam Heyward, center Maurkice Pouncey maintained.

"I think the whole team, everybody has to step up just a little bit. When injuries like that happen to guys who are so accountable and leaders on this team, somebody has to pick up the torch and run with it. Everybody has to do just a little bit more on this football team.

That can happen, Pouncey said, by "just being more accountable, man.

"You have mistakes in a game, that's going to happen no matter what," Pouncey added. "If you can just clean up one mistake in the game then that's doing your part."

Pouncey said he's confident the Steelers will come up with a bounce-back performance against the Browns.

"I always feel confident, man," Pouncey said. "I love this football team. I know this football team will come to play."