Aaron Smith had surgery Monday to repair a torn tendon in his biceps and will be out indefinitely. That's the bad news.
The good news is that the Steelers are holding out hope Smith will be able to return at some point this season - though Mike Tomlin wouldn't put a timetable on it – so the Steelers aren't putting him on IR.
That could change if they get a rash of other injuries. But for the time being, Smith could possibly return.
© Tomlin is optimistic about getting Brett Keisel, LaMarr Woodley and Flozell Adams back this week for Sunday night's game at New Orleans.
All will be limited in practice to start the week.
© It looks like Trai Essex will be back this week. Though Tomlin wouldn't commit to a starter at right guard, the bet here is that if Essex is healthy, he'll start.
© You can hear me on FOX 970-AM every Tuesday night from 7 to 9 p.m. - beginning tonight - for the remainder of this season.
We'll be discussing the previous week's game and upcoming game for the Steelers each week.
Hope Aaron Smith can come back and play at some point in the season or post-season. It looks like the same scenario as 1995 when Woodson tore his ACL but kept on the active roster all season.
ReplyDeleteThe NFL/NFLPA really need to come up with a short term IR - say 6 weeks - where at least a team can sign a replacement player to the 53 man roster.
That could be one of the things the league does if it goes to 18 games. They do have the PUP list, but that's just for training camp stuff.
ReplyDeleteOf course, expanded rosters will also be on the table.
do you think Tomlin planned to give Essex his job back all along, or did Legursky play his way to the bench on Sunday?
ReplyDeletei also think last Sunday showed the importance of Flozell Adams in the run game. Sure Pouncey and Kugler have been key factors as well, but Adams has the ability to collapse an entire side of a defensive line.
Just like you can't coach speed (see Mike Wallace), you can't coach size and strength either.
Dale, I believe the NFL is the only major pro league that doesn't have several different types of IR (given the PUP is just for camp, as you said).
ReplyDeleteYou'd think with all the emphasis on player safety, it would make sense to have a short term IR rather than have players going out and playing or trying to play when they're injured rather than go on season-ending IR.
Tomlin made it sound like they will sign McLendon again. So who's getting cut? My vote would be Hills or Battle, though I'm expecting it to be Butler or Dwyer.
ReplyDeleteDale,
ReplyDeleteis there a live stream feed somewhere for that radio station for those outside the area?
Yep...just google Fox 970
ReplyDeleteWow, so Wexell really was fired by Clear Channel? That would make it the second time Madden has gotten him fired from a radio job.
ReplyDeleteI actually expect the Steelers to cut Batch at some point this week to activate McLendon.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I expect Batch to be released, too. That was the previous plan. Batch being the 3rd qb again once Leftwich got healthy is probably a good indicator.
ReplyDeletethey should just cut Randel El, he is worthless
ReplyDeleteit would really suck if this is how smith's career ends. i hope they stick with legursky
ReplyDeleteWhy would they cut Batch if Dixon is on IR? That would leave us with only 2 QBs.
ReplyDeleteA lot of teams play with two QBs. Randle El would be the emergency guy. And Batch is unlikely to sign anywhere else. If they needed him, they could just re-sign him.
ReplyDeleteThat's assuming a team like Arizona wouldn't claim him off waivers.
ReplyDeleteveterans, like batch, don't go trough waivers. So he'd only go there if they contacted him and he agreed. Yeah, like that's gonna happen, lol
ReplyDeleteNope, after the trade deadline even veterans must pass through waivers.
ReplyDelete