Pending free-agent pass-rusher Bud Dupree says he plans to be ready for an NFL training camp based on positive feedback from doctors regarding an ACL tear suffered in December, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
The Pittsburgh Steelers' salary-cap issues could complicate his return, but the two sides have remained in touch, Fowler adds.
Pittsburgh would like to retain him and plan to monitor his free-agency situation in the coming weeks, Fowler notes. The Steelers franchise-tagged Dupree for $15.8 million last year, so a second application would come at a higher cost.
Dupree's best body of work has come over his last two campaigns. He cracked double-digit sack numbers in 2019 (11.5) for the first time in his career and recorded eight sacks over 11 games last season before his knee injury.
The 28-year-old pass-rusher has totaled 39.5 sacks and 54 tackles for a loss since being drafted in the first round in 2015.
