The Steelers reported for camp today with five players heading to the PUP list.
They would be center Maurkice Pouncey (foot), linebacker Shawn Lemons (Achilles' tendon strain), offensive tackle Mike Adams (back), cornerback Senquez Golson (shoulder) and quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder).
Adams, who had back surgery July 20, would seem to be the most serious. And it leaves the Steelers painfully thin at the offensive tackle position for the time being.
But the injury to Gradkowski also is troubling. He was shut down during minicamp because of "shoulder fatigue." If that's still bothering him, that's not a good thing for, you know, a guy who throws the ball for a living.
The injury to Golson, the team's second-round draft pick, doesn't appear to be serious, but any time the rookie misses at training camp will set him back.
The biggest loser of the group could be Lemons, the former CFL star who was already a longshot to make the roster.
* The team announced Saturday that general manager Kevin Colbert has been signed to a two-year contract extension that will run through 2018.
Like Tomlin's extension, that will keep him here to help with the process of finding an eventual replacement for Ben Roethlisberger.
* Not a ton of news coming out of the player meet and greets today, but Cam Heyward did say his wife is due to have a baby sometime in November.
When asked if he might miss a game because of that, Heyward joked that he'd tell her to hold it in if she went into labor on a game day.
* With Adams down for the time being, Alejandro Villanueva should get plenty of reps at left tackle.
I know he's a fan favorite, but I'm taking a wait-and-see approach with a player who has A. Never played tackle and B. I haven't seen hit anyone.
Villanueva, a former Army Ranger, looks the part. But he's bounced around to so many positions - even in college - that he's painfully raw.
And heck, last year at this time, he was lining up as a defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles.
It seems worrisome that Bell's knee is still not healed 6+ months after the end of last season.
ReplyDeleteYet hes posting videos of doing slam dunks? go figure. He wasnt listed on the PUP, so I wouldnt worry.
ReplyDeleteHe's fine.
ReplyDeleteDale, what's the results of the conditioning test? All go as planned?
ReplyDeleteNo issues
ReplyDeleteDale, do you know when Mike Adams knew he would need surgery. Is it something that just flared up before camp? If not I wonder why he put it off so long. He doesn't exactly have the resume to be so casual about it. I hope whatever it is he took care of it as soon as possible. I would really like to see him put some work in this year.
ReplyDelete