APThe primary goal of preseason action isn’t to win games but to not lose players. In that regard, the Steelers sustained what could be serious blow during Sunday night’s 14-3 loss to the Vikings.
Kicker Shaun Suisham suffered a knee injury, reportedly on the third-quarter kickoff. After the game, coach Mike Tomlin dubbed the injury “potentially significant,” via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Suisham, the only kicker on the roster, tackled Marcus Sherels on the play, apparently suffering the injury while going to the ground.
So the Steelers will need to quickly find another kicker or two, and the quality of the kicker they find could impact whether they go for one from the 15 or opt to go for two from much closer to the end zone.
SUSHI MAN
Eliminate preseason = eliminate preseason injuries. Simple math.
The Steelers started almost their entire Defense today, for a lot of the game. They were lucky only the Kicker got hurt.
Kickalicious.
Damn, and just for a pre-season game.
Hope he can recover in time to play this season.
Steelers are losing to a team wearing purple.
I guess football is back!!!
4 hours of nonstop coverage, and analysis, repeated, on the NFLs network channel…
For a preseason pre-game.
Those greedy greedy execs who meanwhile can’t have a deflation controversy with a QB whose team Gave you the best Super Bowl in 10 years and try to rip his head off.
Goodell meet kettle, then retire.
Damn, since the superbowl miss the dude has been a completely amazing.
Why in the heck would your kicker tackle anyone opening preseason game. This is beyond idiotic mike t and suisham should have been told not to touch anyone.
Why is a kicker attempting to make a tackle in a meaningless preseason game?
at least they have time to get a new guy ready before the real season starts if they need to.
Good luck Suisham, footballs tough enough without getting hurt in a meaningless games.
Somehow, someway this is probably the Patriots doing to try and even the playing field when they play. Injuregate
It is just a kicker by reading the first paragraph you would of thought the steelers lost Big Ben for the whole entire season
don’t worry… it’s only torn-ACL-like symptoms. He’ll be fiiiiiiine tomorrow
And all the STEALer fans thought this was their come-back year. lol
Suisham is an idiot for attempting a meaningless tackle. It’s the preseason, and besides, the returner was already stopped. Thank God it was only the kicker, but still!
RavenzGunnerz says:
Aug 10, 2015 12:00 AM
Steelers are losing to a team wearing purple.
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And once again, Bell didn’t play.
Simple cause and effect.
What was he even doing on the field?? Tomlin is a moron. Having a reliable kicker is soooo much more important this year, it can’t be underestimated. Having a good veteran kicker like Suisham injured in preseason is unforgivable stupidity.
With their offense, they might not need a kicker this year.
Eliminate preseason = eliminate preseason injuries. Simple math.
Injure knee tackling someone on Opening Day=Injure knee tackling someone in Preseason.
He shoulda done like kickers in the regular season…stood 3 yards away from the runner, put down his head as if to tackle and swung his arm toward him. Oops, I missed. Really, there’s no shame in it…
I’ll say it’s significant … the Steelers might be forced to get a decent kicker.
I don’t wish an injury on any player. Even Steelers players. Hope its not as significant as Tomlin thought it might be last night.
This sorts of things usually only happen to us(the Browns).
Why is the kicker trying to make a tackle in preseason?
Hope it proves to be not as bad an injury as suspected Shaun
Why is their kicker tackling returners? I thought that was Tomlin ‘ s job. LOL.
Why was he making a tackle in the HOF game?
RavenzGunnerz says:
Aug 10, 2015 12:00 AM
Steelers are losing to a team wearing purple.
I guess football is back!!!
–
And somewhere a Baltimore Raven is working toward their new orange outfit.
enoughofthatalready says:
Aug 10, 2015 8:23 AM
RavenzGunnerz says:
Aug 10, 2015 12:00 AM
Steelers are losing to a team wearing purple.
I guess football is back!!!
–
And somewhere a Baltimore Raven is working toward their new orange outfit.
–
I guess it is Monday.
Kicker tackling in a preseason game. Maybe not a great idea
This is no joke for the Steelers or Suisham. Eliminating the preseason is a legitimate point. Eliminating kickoffs is another, an idea that was floated and squashed recently. Horrific injuries are common on KO returns. Locomotives crashing. Maybe the kicker should just kickoff and get off the field. Not kidding. FG’s and now PAT’s have become game and season changers, kickers are almost as important as QB’s in a league of parity. A reliable kicker may be even harder than a QB to evaluate, draft, and replace. Best analogy is pro golfers, once they lose their confidence their careers are over.
No way Mike Tomlin should of let this happen. Your kicker is not supposed to make tackles in preseason games. Unacceptable decision for Mike Tomlin and Suisham.
Purple = Steeler kryptonite
steelcurtainn says:
Aug 10, 2015 9:19 AM
No way Mike Tomlin should of let this happen. Your kicker is not supposed to make tackles in preseason games. Unacceptable decision for Mike Tomlin and Suisham.
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I don’t think Tomlin was talking in Suisham’s non-existent headset, telling him to tackle and giving him orders.
“Eliminate preseason = eliminate preseason injuries. Simple math.”
Tell the kicker not to run into his teammates and opponent with a sad tackle attempt when they are already in the process of going out of bounds in a meaningless game. If you watched the game, the replays showed it was his own dumb fault. It’s never good when a kicker tries to make a tackle, especially in the preseason and especially when the big boys had it taken care of already.
TebowedOutOfThePostSeasonAndNeverToReturn says:
Aug 10, 2015 7:59 AM
Why is their kicker tackling returners? I thought that was Tomlin ‘ s job. LOL.
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Priceless…lol. But on a more serious note, I wish him the best of luck and a speedy recovery.
Calling Dr Rydze
Just an FYI for Ravens fans, the Steelers are 24-18 against your team which includes a 3-1 record in the playoffs. At least get a 500 record before talking smack against a team that’s routinely smacked you around for the last 19 years.
Sad for Pittsburgh. This could potentially be a huge deal — even averagely accurate kickers are hard to come by in the NFL. Clearly no one wants a Billy Cundiff type on their roster when push comes to shove in a pinch…
The kicker did what he should have done, which is try to make the tackle. Most teams put kickers on the bubble by not even thinking of them as football players “Their only the kicker” mentality.Now were asking they not even play real football by not attempting to make a tackle?This stuff happens, its a part of the game. Fantasy Island to think that players will not get injured weather in pre or real season games. Steelers know the drill, they will move on.
I don’t think Tomlin was talking in Suisham’s non-existent headset, telling him to tackle and giving him orders.
The Point is these things are to be discussed before even kicking off the ball and really shouldnt have to be discussed if you ask me. Mike Tomlin is veteran coach and Suisham is a veteran player. Point Blank, Your kicker doesn’t tackle players in the preseason and Tomlin should have stressed this.
Once again, LeBeau is laughing.
He was making the tackle because he was playing football.
Too bad, but tackled is a bit of a stretch. I’d go with fell down in front of a player running out of bounds myself.
Blaming Tomlin is ridiculous. If Suisham hadn’t attempted a tackle, people would be screaming about that.
Story I read somewhere said he was on crutches with a heavily wrapped knee after the game. Not good. Sorry for the bad luck Steelers.
Kickers should not make tackles in the pre-season games.
Kick the ball off then immediately run to the sideline.
Remember that time Bell didn’t play? I do. I also remember the time Ravens had eighteen, yes 18, players on IR. Didn’t seem to be a problem. Steeler fans wish they had JT9
Cheers!
And did any of those Ravens equal 40% of the offense or defense’s production? Did the 18 combined account for that much plus Ben can relax with Bell back there having his back.
This Lions fan knows how important kickers are to winning and losing.
This is a freak accident, but stop the outcry over the pre-season. With as little as coaches are allowed to work the team out during the summer, these 4 weeks are pivotal to making your team look like your team before Week 1.
Bring back that alcoholic Jeff Reed
He probably tried to make the tackle because he’s a competitor……. and it came naturally. No time to think “Hey. I’m the kicker and this is preseason.”
Why does it matter if its a preseason game or a regular season game we now need a kicker? When he got hurt doesn’t matter squat.
If you start making all these games count what kind of team would you have by the end of the year? Half the starters would be on IR.
You want to be watching Landry QB’ing us in the Playoffs?
You’d have to add 10 roster players per team to survive the season.