Steeler fans got the news on Wednesday that wide receiver Sammie Coates will be returning to the football field.

WR Sammie Coates has been activated from our Active PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List.

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 16, 2017

This announcement was met with mixed opinions. While some are optimistic about his return, others can only remember all the passes Coates dropped last season.

During the offseason the Steelers decided Coates needed some competition and signed free agent wide receiver Justin Hunter. The former second round pick has a similar skill set to Coates, known for his athleticism, speed… and unreliable hands. It didn’t take long for Hunter to become a fan-favorite it training camp. He’s flashed enough to now have people wondering if its possible he beats out Coates for a spot on the roster. Now that Coates is finally off the PUP list, he has the opportunity to compete for a roster spot and try to show the team that he was worth a third round pick.

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With both players now practicing the battle is on to see who makes the roster. Here are three keys that may determine who wins this position battle…

Hands

This is an easy one. Nobody questions the athleticism of Coates and Hunter, both ran around a 4.44 40 yard dash and have roughly a 40 inch vertical jump. They are clear athletes, but it takes more than speed to be a wide receiver. The real question lies in who can be relied on to catch the ball.

Whichever player makes the team will likely play the same role as a deep threat on the offense. However quarterback Ben Roethlisberger needs to be able to trust whoever he’s throwing the ball too. With Roethlisberger’s cannon arm having a deep threat opens up the offense tremendously, which we witnessed in 2016 prior to Coates’ injury.

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As mentioned earlier, both Coates and Hunter have had their careers plagued with dropped balls. Whether the issues lies in focus or confidence is irrelevant. With the Steelers wide receiver depth chart as deep as it is there is no room for excuses. Whoever proves that they can consistently catch the ball will have a major edge in this competition.

Hats

The Steelers love players that can wear multiple hats. No we’re not talking about Eli Rogers’ hard hat, we’re talking about a player who can play and excel in multiple roles for the team. This applies largely to special teams. Last year we saw Sammie Coates get a lot of work on special teams and perform moderately well. He was frequently used as a kick returner, as well as a gunner on punts – meaning he was one of the main players who’s main task was to get to the punt returner as quickly as possible and tackle them.

If Coates and Hunter prove to be fairly similar when it comes to their receiving abilities, the battle could be determined by who can contribute more on special teams. This gives Coates an edge given his experience from last year and Hunters inexperience.

According to Pro Football Reference, Hunter only played four special teams snaps with the Buffalo Bills in 2016 – a whopping 0.86%. His time in Tennessee wasn’t any better, playing zero special teams snaps in 2015 and 2014. It is certainly possible Hunter could excel at special teams given the chance and proper coaching, but we’ll just have to wait until the next game to see how he is used.

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Health

A players health can make or break their odds of making a team. Both Coates and Hunter have had their struggles in this regard. Coates’ injuries have included his most recent knee scope, groin surgery, and hand surgery – not the most encouraging news about a player. Ideally Coates returns fully healthy and doesn’t experience any setbacks, but when it comes to injury history you never know what may happen.

Hunter has a rich injury history as well. In 2015 he broke his ankle and was forced to sit out for the remainder of the season. In 2014 he had to be treated for a lacerated spleen and was placed on injured reserve late in the season. Hunter also missed the Steelers first preseason game due to injury, but has since been eased back into practice.

Neither Coates or Hunter has an encouraging injury history. We’ve seen countless examples in NFL history of players getting injured and never truly returning to form. It is integral for whichever player wins this battle to prove they can overcome their past injuries and remain healthy.