Bud Dupree

Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 first round draft pick, Bud Dupree can sprint again. He is trying to come off the IR with a groin injury. Here he participates in the team's first day of OTAs. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

(Keith Srakocic)

PITTSBURGH -- Bud Dupree can sprint again. He can backpedal too.

"Getting my strength back is my main focus now, and just to get as much strength back in my legs and as much endurance back in my legs before I get back on the field," Dupree said.

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 2015 first-round outside linebacker pick has been on the team's injured-reserve list since the beginning of the regular season, recovering from a groin surgery. Dupree said his groin was hurting him as far back as the spring, when he thought the injury would go away or that he'd be able to play through it.

Where Dupree's recovery stood 10 days ago

As the Steelers came out of their bye week on Monday, Dupree said he was in an offseason level of training. He has returned to a full weight room routine, he said, and is simply trying to run his way back into shape.

"They told me to come back whenever my body feels good, so I'm just trying to go as soon as I can," Dupree said. "If I feel good next week, I'll practice next week."

Ben Roethlisberger practices -- with the offense

Without Dupree, a particularly fast outside linebacker, the Steelers' pass rush has struggled. Arthur Moats and Anthony Chickillo are the only players in the position with a sack, combining for 2.5 of the team's league-worst eight sacks.

Week 9 marks the first of the season in which Dupree is part of team meetings, he said. And the bye week, he said, helped him get ahead of his recovery.

This is also the first game week that Dupree is eligible to play in as the Steelers had last week off, but he said he does not anticipate practicing.