Jacob Klinger | jklinger@pennlive.com

PITTSBURGH -- Though Mike Tomlin told Artie Burns during organized team activities (OTAs) he wouldn't get a chance to return kicks, Burns is practicing them in Week 1 of the regular season, Burns said Wednesday.

Burns returned 11 kicks at Miami for 288 yards, but hasn't fielded any for the Steelers. Pittsburgh hadn't had a defensive player return kicks since Mike Tomlin's first year at the helm until Justin Gilbert took three back last season.

JuJu Smith-Schuster is listed as the team's starting kick returner with Burns and Terrell Watson directly behind him. Burns is not in contention to return punts.

"Whoever would stare up at the ball and let people come hit them, that's who does punt returns," Burns said.

These and other notes from Steelers practice Wednesday, leading up to the team's season opener against the Cleveland Browns:

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Stephon Tuitt on this season

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"We got to finish all the way. We can't bow down to the team that we've been bowing down to. We've got to kick their butts."

He was pressed on who he was referring to and didn't mention the New England Patriots by name, though he said it wasn't intentional.

"What team is that? We already know what team that was," Tuitt said. "We already lost to them in the AFC Championship. To be able to go back and beat that team, to be able to go up there - like I said, I'm not worried about them, it's one week at a time - but at the same time we want to be able to keep everybody healthy and be strong for the playoffs."

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Tuitt said he would prefer the Steelers go through the Patriots en route to a Super Bowl.

"I circle all the teams," he said. "They're probably double-circled."

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Stephon Tuitt says if he were a Ninja Turtle he would be Raphael. — Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 6, 2017

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Robert Golden gives up his jersey

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Beyond reinforcing the Steelers secondary Joe Haden's signing created a jersey number logjam. As a Cleveland Brown Joe Haden wore No. 23. In Pittsburgh, that belonged to Mike Mitchell.

It still does. Mitchell confirmed as much on Wednesday morning, which left Haden seeking a cornerback number on a team where every number in the 20s was accounted for.

Mike Mitchell says he's keeping his No. 23 jersey. — Jacob Klinger (@Jacob_Klinger_) September 6, 2017

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This led to Robert Golden, previously No. 21, deciding to give up his number to Haden for some sort of price. There were negotiations.

"Something good for me," Golden said of what it took for him to change numbers.

"I do have a child and he is growing out of Pampers and everything, so it definitely helped me out a lot," Golden said.

The process of changing numbers is ongoing, he said, but Cameron Sutton's No. 20 belongs to Golden now. Sutton, who is on injured-reserve, didn't benefit from this exchange.

Said: "When you're a rookie, man, that's kind of how it goes."

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Elsewhere in the secondary

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Mike Hilton takes the field in nickel - five defensive backs - packages and William Gay joins the defense when the Steelers go to dime - six defensive backs - personnel, Burns said.

This would mean Hilton is the first-choice slot corner.

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DeShone Kizer reflects on Joe Haden

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Who was briefly his teammate with the Browns.

"Joe was the first guy I met when I came to Cleveland and he kind of took me in with open arms and showed me the reins and kind of explained what it was like to be a Cleveland Brown," Kizer said. "So I definitely have the utmost respect for him and thank him for that. We've talked since he's left and it seems like everything's going pretty well for him."

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On what that entails:

"He explained how amazing the city is and the support that everyone gives and the transition that has happened here as far as the winning mentality that it takes to get things back to normal, but also how much responsibility it is as a quarterback, representing this city as well. Obviously there's a long list of guys that have gone out and attempted to be the starter here and he told me it's going to take a lot to get back to where we want to be, but obviously he supported me through it all."

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More Steelers coverage

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