Another Pittsburgh Steelers practice day came and went Monday without No. 17 out on the field.
Or even in the building.
Thirty-four days after the start of training camp, Mike Wallace still has yet to report to the Steelers. But unlike many of the 33 days that preceded Monday, the Pro Bowl receiver's absence at the team facility on this day was more surprising.
After almost a week's worth of widespread speculation and reports that Wallace was on the verge of reporting after the Steelers' third preseason game this past Saturday, Wallace was nowhere to be seen on the day of the team's first practice since that game.
Per NFL rules, Wallace cannot practice for three days after he signs his one-year tender of $2.7 million. That means he is unlikely to practice much at all this week, no matter when he shows up between now and Friday.
Could Tuesday be the day Wallace shows?
"Possibly," fellow Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown said. "It definitely could be Tuesday. I'm looking forward to seeing him, even though he has to wait three days to practice. Hopefully, we can keep him after practice and run a couple sprints and get him on board and all hands on deck for this journey we're about to embark on."
Cornerback Keenan Lewis was a high school teammate of Wallace's, and the two remain close. Monday, Lewis said, "Tomorrow's the day." But that should be taken with a grain of salt because Lewis has been coy throughout camp when it comes to fielding questions about Wallace's whereabouts.
Monday, for example, a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporter tweeted that Lewis said Wallace was reporting "today."
Monday's practice came and went -- and several hours after practice ended at the team facility, Wallace was not seen.
As he has been wont to do, coach Mike Tomlin refused to address Wallace.
"I’ll deal with Mike Wallace when he gets here," Tomlin said after practice.
Local media learned long ago that's as far as Tomlin will go in speaking about the speedster receiver he playfully has called "One-Trick Pony" -- an effort to motivate him to round out his game.
But with multiple national media outlets on hand in Pittsburgh for what was supposed to be a ballyhooed Wallace arrival, follow-up questions followed.
They were not met with much patience from Tomlin.
Have you heard that Wallace will report to the team tomorrow?
"I don't go by what I hear. I go by what I see. When I see him then I’ll address those issues," Tomlin said.
Have you heard from Wallace at all?
"I have not," Tomlin replied.
Tomlin eventually became irritated.
While being asked how big a difference Wallace's speed makes in an offense, Tomlin cut off the questioner.
"Guys, I'm not talking about Mike Wallace until he gets here. I'm focused on the ones that are here and working. Anybody got any questions about anybody here working?"
The head coach was unwilling to discuss his No. 1 receiver, but many players were happy to talk about him. Players who talk about Wallace clearly are eager for him to join them soon.
"I'm looking forward to it," receiver Emmanuel Sanders said. "Everyone's ecstatic about his arrival."
Follow Steelers reporter Chris Adamski on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLPIT and @BuzzsawPGH.
