Micah Rucker wasn’t without a job in the National Football League for long.

Rucker, a former Eastern wide receiver, was released from the Steelers’ active roster on Saturday afternoon during the final roster cuts of the season so Pittsburgh could get its roster to the NFL limit of 53 players.

Less than 24 hours later, Rucker was back with the Steelers as part of their eight-man practice squad.

Each NFL team can keep an additional eight players on the practice squad in addition to the 53 players on the active roster.

“They really wanted to keep me around, and they didn’t have room for me on the active roster,” Rucker said. “We’ve got some different receivers who’ve been in the league.”

Rucker said being on the practice squad was similar to using a red-shirt year in college.

He still practices with the Steelers during the week, and he said that is the time he will use to improve.

“I take my job seriously,” Rucker said. “When I’m going against (defensive backs) Ike Taylor and Deshea Townsend – the first string defense – there’s no choice but for me to get better.”

Rucker said he spends extra time at the Steelers’ complex learning the playbook and talking with the Pittsburgh coaches to keep learning.

He said the Steelers usually finish practice at 3 or 4 p.m., but he’ll stay past 6 p.m. if he has to.

“I’ve just got to keep working,” he said. “You never know when you’ll be activated.”

Rucker, who was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in April, finished his two-year Eastern career with 1,743 yards and 22 touchdowns on 104 receptions.

He was one of eight players signed to the Steelers’ practice squad including fellow rookies Patrick Bailey (linebacker), Roy Lewis (cornerback) and Dezmond Sherrod (tight end).

Rucker played in all four of the Steelers’ preseason games and caught one pass for 10 yards on Pittsburgh’s game-winning drive against Carolina on Thursday.

“That felt good to get that first catch out of the way,” Rucker said. “That really felt good. I kind of wish I would have stayed up. As I turned I tried to keep running and I kind of slipped.”

His biggest play, however, was one that didn’t quite happen.

Rucker nearly caught a Hail Mary pass against Buffalo, but couldn’t pull the ball down in traffic, as he was triple-teamed in the end zone.

“I think we had like six seconds on the clock,” Rucker said. “I just knew I was going to be able to make the play. There were some guys around me, but I couldn’t really feel them. (Not making the catch has) been kind of tough to deal with.”

But Rucker is dealing just fine with his new life in Pittsburgh.

He said the city is beautiful and the fan support for the Steelers is crazy.

“The fans are ridiculous,” he said. “Anytime people talk about the fans, they’re right on. To go to practice and leave practice you have to walk down this hill, and the fans are just yelling. They want you to sign anything and everything.”

Not only are the Pittsburgh fans supportive, but Rucker said he is getting along well with his teammates and enjoying his time as a professional football player.

“It’s really a blessing,” he said. “It really is a dream come true. All those guys are so helpful. They’ve all been in the league for a good amount of time. They really try and do anything they can to make you a better player.”

Scott Richey can be reached at 581-7944 or at srrichey@eiu.edu.