Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would not commit to a starting running back today, saying only that he expected Isaac Redman back at practice Wednesday, while Rashard Mendenhall has been cleared to return to individual drills.
Jonathan Dwyer, who has started the past two games - gaining over 100 yards in each - is expected to sit out practice Wednesday and return Thursday.
Tomlin said he'll wait until later in the week to make a decision on who starts, but the feeling here is that Dwyer starts, Redman serves as a third-down and short-yardage back and Mendenhall sits out again while he gets that Achilles' tendon 100 percent healthy.
@ Troy Polamalu and Marcus Gilbert are out again, while Stevenson Sylvester is also looking doubtful with a hamstring.
@ Ryan Clark will have to pass concussion tests but should be OK.
LaMarr Woodley's hamstring is still a little sore and the Steelers will be limited at practice early in the week.
@ Tomlin said he expects that the league is keeping a close eye on the situation in New York this week with the weather.
There's been extensive flooding in the New York/New Jersey area, making travel around the city difficult.
Things aren't expected to get back to normal for several days and I wouldn't be surprised if this game was bumped to Monday night to allow an extra day for cleanup.
UPDATE: As of Tuesday, the NFL is not moving the game from the 4:30 p.m. Sunday start. But, according to an NFL spokesman, the league is continuing to monitor the situation.
@ If you're looking for some insight into what the Steelers are planning to do with rookie nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu, look no further than the move they made Tuesday.
The Steelers released practice squad defensive tackle Corbin Bryant and signed John Malecki and tight end/fullback Jamie McCoy to the practice squad.
That tells me that they are planning on activating Ta'amu to the active roster and releasing a tight end.
Bye Bye Pope you waste of a roster space!!
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised they want to activate Teamu after the suspension. They seemed to keep him inactive week after week before.
ReplyDeleteHe will still be inactive on game days. But if they put him on the PS, he's eligible to be signed by another team - if that team puts him on its active roster
ReplyDeleteI suppose its a gamble to put him on the PS.
ReplyDeleteBut if a team is that desperate to have him, then the Steelers lose a project with a drinking problem. I don't see it as a losing bet either way.
If they were cutting a difference maker I would agree but the loss of a 3rd string tight end with no specially teams value is the smart move.
ReplyDeleteI would be surprised if they only carry two tight ends. It would already limit your formations and if one of them gets injured it severely limits your formations. I know Will Johnson can probably line up inline but he hasn't had to do it all this year. More likely to me is if Clark passes his tests, Cromartie-Smith is put back on the practice squad or Van Dyke is cut.
ReplyDeleteIf Clark is not cleared to play, I would think somebody ends up on IR for some reason or another.