The outlook for players who exit games due to injury and do not return is often ominous. Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall exited Thursday night’s game against the Titans with an Achilles’ injury, and did not return.
Mendenhall was in just his second game back returning from reconstructive knee surgery, however, and it appears the Steelers were being cautious with him. Citing a person who’s spoken to Pittsburgh’s running back, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Mendenhall’s Achilles’ injury is “minor,” and just “tightened up” on Thursday night.
Per Rapoport, Mendenhall’s status for Week Seven will be determined by how his Achilles’ responds over the weekend. The ten-day layoff between Pittsburgh’s Week Six and Seven games should theoretically bode well for Mendenhall’s chances of avoiding missed time.
The Steelers play the division rival Bengals next.