PITTSBURGH — Running back Ray Graham might not play in Pittsburgh’s season opener Saturday, but the news on the Panthers’ two leading receivers from last season is much more encouraging.

Graham is coming off “certainly the best week he’s had” in his recovery from a torn ACL, new coach Paul Chryst said Monday. But Chryst stopped short of saying Graham would play Saturday at Youngstown State, terming him a gametime decision.

“One thing we’ve talked about is if we’re going to err. We’d rather play him a day late than a day too soon,” Chryst said. “Surely, I think we’re a better team with him, but I want to make sure we’re doing what’s best for him.”

Injured starting receivers Devin Street (knee) and Mike Shanahan (hamstring) have picked up the intensity of their practices over the past week, and should be OK.

“I anticipate them being health,” Chryst said, “and ready to go Saturday.”

Street, a junior, had a team-best 53 catches for 754 yards last season. Shanahan, a senior, led the team with four receiving touchdowns among his 39 receptions and 493 yards.

Shanahan is a veteran of 37 games and 25 starts since 2009. Two years ago, Street also became a starter during his redshirt freshman season. The other receivers on the roster have a combined 37 catches. Street and Shanahan just recently returned to practice, but Chryst said their histories with fifth-year senior quarterback Tino Sunseri factor into the likelihood they will start Saturday.

“I think we’re fortunate that specifically with Devin and Mike, they’ve played a lot of football and they’ve got good football IQ,” Chryst said. “So you don’t necessarily need to have a thousand reps of each route for them to understand and feel comfortable and develop timing with Tino.”