LATROBE, Pa. – It's been a big week for Sammie Coates.
His wife gave birth to their first child, a son, on Tuesday, and then on Wednesday he was activated from the team's Active PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List.
"It's been a great week," said Coates. "I didn't want to leave this morning. I did. I knew I had to come and get to work. It made me happier to come back out here. I have something more to fight for than myself."
Coates was placed on the PUP list on July 27, the day the team reported to Saint Vincent College for training camp, as he was still recovering from offseason knee surgery.
He said it's been tough watching his teammates over the last three weeks, and is looking forward to hitting the practice field.
"It feels great," said Coates. "I was depressed out there on the sidelines watching my teammates work. It feels good to be out there with them. It's one of those things where you don't want to be on the sidelines. You always want to be out there with your teammates. It gets to you just sitting there watching.
"When you are at camp there is no escape. You see the guys every day practicing, doing everything and it makes you even hungrier. To get back out there is a great feeling."
Coates isn't concerned about being behind because of his inactivity as he has tried to remain as active as possible with the receivers while being a spectator.
"I won't be behind," said Coates. "It's about getting out there and getting reps. I just have to go out there and play my game, let it come to me."
