Here is the second installment of the Steelers' mailbag. If you have a question please send to @ScottBrown_ESPN with #mail.

And away we go ...

@ScottBrown_ESPN please tell me Shazier is coming back after the bye #mail

— Mark Fuentes (@TheMarkEff) November 20, 2014

@ScottBrown_ESPN I could tell you that but I have my doubts that Ryan Shazier plays against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 30. Shazier sustained a high ankle sprain in the 43-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 2 and that is a tough injury to come back from, especially for a linebacker who relies on speed and quickness and has to move a lot laterally.

The Steelers plan to ease Shazier back into practice on Monday when the players return from the bye. How much the first-round pick is able to do as the week progresses will determine whether Shazier has a chance of playing against the Saints. My guess is they err on the side of caution and hold the rookie out for another week. I had a chance to talk to linebackers coach Keith Butler last week about Shazier and how much of a setback the knee and ankle injuries that have already cost him six games have set back his development. That post will be up Monday morning.

@ScottBrown_ESPN What can you tell us about Josh Harris and what his role will be moving forward? #mail

— Matt Wilkes (@MWilkesOSU) November 20, 2014

@ScottBrown_ESPN I touched on Harris in the mailbag that ran earlier today and the 5-foot-11, 210-pound running back has good size, speed and quickness. The Steelers are excited to see what the undrafted free agent can do as am I. Harris is a more prototypical running back than Dri Archer, who is averaging just under a carry per game and has struggled in his rookie season.

Given the lack of return the Steelers have gotten so far from Archer, their third-round draft pick in May, I think Harris will be in the mix to get some carries behind Le'Veon Bell. But given how important Bell is to the offense and how he is an every-down back, both Archer and Harris are going to be vying for scraps rather than significant carries behind Bell.

@ScottBrown_ESPN what's the word on Jarvis? #mail

— Sean Lynskey (@sean_lynsk) November 20, 2014

@ScottBrown_ESPN I wrote about Jarvis Jones last week and Butler is hopeful that the second-year man returns this season but also acknowledged that there are no guarantees. The biggest obstacle to Jones returning from a dislocated wrist is the importance of using his hands at his position. Jones has to regain enough strength in his wrist that the Steelers will be comfortable the 2013 first-round pick is not "defenseless" when he gets back onto the field as Butler told me last week.

Jones is optimistic he will return this season and I can tell you that he is doing everything to make that happen. Jones has been at Steelers headquarters on a regular basis, working out and attending linebackers meetings as well as practice to stay engaged. The Steelers have 21 days to play him in a game after activating Jones from the injured reserve/designated to return list. That they have yet to take that step shows that Jones is still a ways away from returning to the field.

@ScottBrown_ESPN #mail why wouldn't the Steelers add a veteran RB rather than add just from the practice squad? Seems like weaker RB group.

— Brian (@elliottbp) November 20, 2014

@ScottBrown_ESPN Well, it certainly is a more inexperienced backfield but I don't know if I would necessarily call it a weaker one. Getting rid of LeGarrette Blount was classic addition by subtraction. Take away a 100-yard game against the Carolina Panthers and Blount averaged less than 3 yards per carry and the Steelers were already phasing him out of the offense before he walked out on his teammates last Monday night in Tennessee.

I'm sure the Steelers are keeping their eye on running backs that are out there but they are also well aware of how frequently unheralded backs seemingly come out of nowhere after getting an opportunity. That happened last week with former undrafted free agent Jonas Gray, who rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns for the New England Patriots last week. The Steelers hope they don't have to find out anytime soon if Josh Harris can become another in a growing line of backs like Gray because that would mean Bell went down with a significant injury. But the Steelers obviously like his potential for them to promote Harris right after they got rid of Blount.