Week 1 Injuries Just an Extra “Football to the Groin” For Steelers

Sep 8, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53) is attended to by team trainers after suffering an apparent injury against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

It was bad enough that the Steelers put on a pathetic show today against the Titans.  What made the loss even more disgusting was the fact that four of Pittsburgh’s players left the game due to injuries according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey’s knee injury was the most difficult to watch, and his season is finished after he tore his ACL and MCL.  Of course, it wouldn’t be a normal regular season in Pittsburgh if a rash of injuries did not destroy and ravage their projected starting offensive line.  It is just salt in the proverbial wound that Pouncey is far and away the Steelers’ best offensive lineman.

LaRod Stephens-Howling left the game with a right knee injury and did not return.  Although “The Hyphen” wasn’t tearing things up on the ground this afternoon, his absence will make an already thin running back corps even more problematic.

The Steelers’ defense was not immune from the “injury bug” either, and they had two starters exit the game before it finished too.  Cornerback Cortez Allen sustained an ankle injury and had to leave, while starting inside linebacker Larry Foote will likely join Pouncey on the bench after he ruptured his bicep in the fourth quarter.

Tomlin’s “Next Man Up” mantra will really be put to the test over the coming weeks, and I will be interested to see how the situations shake out at center and inside linebacker.  As of now, the following questions have already crossed my mind:

• Will Kelvin Beachum stay at center?

• Or will the team use Cody Wallace or re-sign John Malecki?

• Will Lawrence Timmons shift over to Foote’s spot?  If so, who will take Timmons’ place on the inside?

• Is Stevenson Sylvester on the team’s radars?

• Or will the Steelers’ brass elect to use Vince Williams or Kion Wilson?

I for one do not want to think about the type of mistake-laden play which could occur at those positions throughout the 2013 regular season, and I am sure that you readers do not want to either.  So instead of me being a “Negative Nancy,” I will leave you readers with this funny video of a man getting hit by a football to raise your spirits:

Stats & Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com and Pro Football Reference

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