Recent Injuries Could Hurt Hobbled Steelers Even More
Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
It was bad enough that the Pittsburgh Steelers were absolutely shellacked by the New England Patriots yesterday. The fact that three of the team’s starters left the game due to injuries represented extra “footballs to the groin” for the 2-6 Steelers.
According to head coach Mike Tomlin, Ike Taylor and Vince Williams both sustained concussions during Pittsburgh’s most recent loss, and Marcus Gilbert was unable to finish the game due to an ankle injury.
All three players are starters, and all the status of all three could be in doubt for this weekend’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
What makes these injuries even more worrisome is the fact that the depth at those three positional units is essentially “bare” at this point in the 2013 season.
Behind Taylor, the only players with any experience to speak of are William Gay and Cortez Allen. Curtis Brown continues to be a healthy scratch, while Antwon Blake and Isaiah Green have yet to log any significant time at the cornerback position.
At inside linebacker, Stevenson Sylvester, Terence Garvin, and Kion Wilson are the backups. Sylvester and Wilson have both been released by the franchise at different points this year, while the rookie Garvin has not taken any snaps during regular season play at either inside linebacker spot.
As far as Gilbert is concerned, the Steelers’ offensive line has been an absolute dumpster fire this year when it has come to injuries. At tackle, only Mike Adams and Guy Whimper are in relief, and Whimper has been forced to play guard with David DeCastro nursing his injured ankle. Pittsburgh might even have to use Ramon Foster or the inconsistent Adams at tackle if any more injuries strike and Gilbert is sidelined.
Final Thoughts
I could care less about “wins and losses” right now, and an 0-8 finish for this team is definitely not out of the question. I simply hope that Pittsburgh can finish the season with enough healthy players. Most of all though, I hope that nobody is lost for a significant amount of time due to an injury suffered in an otherwise meaningless game down the stretch.
This already thin team can ill afford to have any more starters sidelined for significant periods of time. Of course, in this “Murphy’s Law” type of season, anything is possible.
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