Pouncey in, Polamalu and Gilbert out for Steelers this week

Posted by Michael David Smith on October 23, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT
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Steelers coach Mike Tomlin offered good news and bad news on the injury front today.

Tomlin said center Maurkice Pouncey, who missed Week Seven after suffering an ankle injury in Week Six, will be ready to practice on Wednesday and play on Sunday against the Redskins.

But the bad news on the offensive line is that tackle Marcus Gilbert, who started the first five games of the season but missed last week with an ankle injury, will miss Sunday’s game.

And there’s more bad news on defense, where safety Troy Polamalu, who has missed most of the season with a calf injury, has already been ruled out for at least another week. Polamalu suffered the injury in Week One and returned in Week Five, only to aggravate the injury early in the game.

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33 responses to “Pouncey in, Polamalu and Gilbert out for Steelers this week”

  1. Gilbert out is a plus, not a loss for the O-line. Don’t want to see anyone hurt but won’t miss him if he doesn’t return.

  3. Hopefully Mike Adams will continue his dominance and just retain the RT spot thru the remainder of the season. Dude is a SERIOUS run blocker as evidenced last game. Still needs to work on his pass blocking but we might see that young OL come together sooner than we thought if Gilbert and DeCastro can get healthy.

  4. Pouncy is a plus..Troy NOT playing is NO news to SteelerNation were use to it by now. Time to start lookin for a VETERAN replacement sooner then later.

  6. mancinibread says: Oct 23, 2012 12:29 PM

    Gilbert out is a plus, not a loss for the O-line. Don’t want to see anyone hurt but won’t miss him if he doesn’t return.

    ————————

    Don’t know how you can say that… Gilbert rounded into a solid RT last year and is one of the better players on the line. His back up is a VERY green rookie who didn’t get embarrassed Sunday because Miller was helping a LOT. Would love to have him back against Ryan Kerrigan this week.

    Troy being out is really unfortunate but you cant rush a calf those injuries will nag forever. Can’t bring him back until hes at 100% for a week or so.

    Pouncey being in is huge news. While Legursky filled in well last week, we’ll need Pouncey’s athleticism to get up to the second level and get a hat on London Fletcher if we want to have success running the football again and keeping RGIII on the sideline.

    We’re getting healthier and playing better slowly but surely – just have to hope the trend continues.

  11. pistol0928 says:

    I’m a Steelers fan and as much as I hate to admit, Troy is done in the league. Sucks.
    —————————————-
    I have to agree. It’s time for us to stop counting on him and to stop making excuses when he’s out. This year and last, he hasn’t been the Polamalu of 3-5 years ago, even when he’s been “healthy”.

    It’s as if we’ve been drinking the ESPN Kool-Aid. Polamalu is one of only three Steelers the national media know by name, and they treat him as if he’s the key to the whole defense–which he used to be but isn’t now.

  13. Troy’s style of play made him a key contributor and a lot of fun to watch. Unfortunately, its also taken a huge toll on his body. The Steelers need to start working on finding a replacement… not sure you can truely replace a special talent like him, but they need to start looking for a talented younger player they can count on to be healthy enough to play a full season.

  14. Where is Willie Colon playing if Pouncey is back and Legursky moves back to G?

    Colon did a nice job at a guard against Cincy.

  15. Before Troy hurt his calf in week 5, he looked fast and was cutting on a dime. Dont think he is done yet.

    Get the feeling even with 2 bad losses, that they are turning the corner getting healthier and starting find some momentum.

    Clayton looked great, and with 3 big backs healthy, they May turn into a great running team with explosive passing game in reserve.

    Balt peaked early, and are going in the opposite direction.

  16. Adams was terrible. Just terrible. He missed a lot of blocks. They had to run..because they had to help Adams on every passing play. Gilbert is much better.

    Troy is still much much much better than Mundy…so this does hurt.

    If they can Mendy back that will help….as he is much quicker that Dwyer.

    That they won says more about the Bengals than the Steelers who are still hurtings..but so are the Skins.

  17. Not bad nor good news this week. Ike has to step up in a much bigger way this week And Harrison needs to stop “holding back” they need to put pressure on RGIII.

  18. Colon will stay put and Legursky will go back to the bench. Really need Gilbert back. He doesn’t need help on the right side. Adams was getting help from Heath and Paulson.

    Gilbert being back will allow the TE’s to be a bit more involved in the offense.

  19. napoleonblownapart6887 said (in part):
    Oct 23, 2012 12:48 PM

    Pouncey being in is huge news. While Legursky filled in well last week, we’ll need Pouncey’s athleticism to get up to the second level and get a hat on London Fletcher if we want to have success running the football again and keeping RGIII on the sideline.

    ————————

    Okay, your post was rock solid – but I may have good news for you. Fletch’s hammy has a very good shot of keeping him off the field next week in the ‘Burgh. Really strong post though.

    As for other related topics, I reeeeeally wish we’d stop rushing players back at times when they’re so susceptible to re-injury. It happens all the time with us (the Steelers).

    There are too many accounts of this to properly delve into — but how we handled Ben, Pouncey and Woodley last year is a recent example of such shortsighted foolishness.

    The choice is trot out an athlete whose play will be compromised and he’ll be ripe to once again aggravate an established injury — or have him sit a game or two, start a healthy guy (next man up) and then get your stud back full go after that. In the example mentioned above, we could have had Ben, Pouncey and Wood ready to rock – once we hit the tournament. Instead, we played them prematurely, and the predictable results ensued.

    This year, Troy injures his hammy in Week 1. They run him onto the field in Week 5, and poof. Now, the situation is worse — and it didn’t take much.

    When are we ever going to learn? Heck, are we ever going to learn?

  20. This Troy injury situation reminds me of the Bob Sanders situation for the colts in 2007. Hurt all year, then came back for the playoffs and played like the defensive MVP that he is as the colts won the title.

    I admit I am a homer, but it is a nice dream…

  21. Hate to say it because Troy has been nothing but a class act and great player, but sounds like all these injuries may be the end for Troy.

  22. jr4real says: Oct 23, 2012 1:24 PM

    Where is Willie Colon playing if Pouncey is back and Legursky moves back to G?

    Colon did a nice job at a guard against Cincy.

    ———————————-

    Colon was supposed to start over Legursky at Guard when the Steelers have their full compliment (Starks/Adams – Colon – Pouncey – DeCastro – Gilbert moving left to right) so my guess is Colon would get the nod at Guard.

  23. ironcity6pak says: Oct 23, 2012 1:50 PM

    Not bad nor good news this week. Ike has to step up in a much bigger way this week And Harrison needs to stop “holding back” they need to put pressure on RGIII.

    ————————–

    Ike has to step up in a bigger way than holding the NFL’s leading receiver to one catch for 8 yards (a touchdown, admittedly but still a strong performance)?

  25. ravenator says:Oct 23, 2012 12:56 PM

    As if pouncey will last

    _________________________________

    As if the ravens 5-2 record will last…….yea, that just happened ravenator. Don’t worry, the Ravens will get a solid draft pick like Sergio Kindle when they are 7-9 at the end of the season.

  26. dontstabmeray: The ravens lost to the 5-1 texans. the steelers lost to 3 horrible teams. They lost to the raiders common. id be very concerned if i were you. Steelers will go 1-7 in thier next 8

  27. Adams needs help in the pass rush but so dose Gilbert..but he is a much better run blocker. So what if they give him TE help. That formula workd out fine. Miller still got his catches..As far as Troy goes, he’s not FINISHD they just need to limit his snaps, and find a PROVEN safety to be ready when Troys contract expires.Right now Ryan Clark is the motor of that Defense, but #43 is still the key.

  28. DeCastro may be coming back soon, and eventually Troy may be back in the fold in time for a few games. DeCastro should strengthen the line and restore some depth. Troy could restore some confidence and chemistry as well. Some pieces coming together at a critical point in the schedule. Here’s to Tomlin, Haley and Lebeau putting together the proper game plans every week and the players executing those plans.
    Keep Dwyer, Johnson and Rainey in the backfield ? Full steam ahead.

  29. The Ravens are done, toast, finito. They got exposed last week, and could easily have only 1 win. Yeah, that’s right. They will be lucky to play .500 ball the rest of the year with their schedule. They are terrible on the road, Flacco is falling apart weekly, their coach is a mess, and their injuries to key players are mounting. Their defense is now worse than Pittsburgh’s, and it won’t get better. The Steelers will pound them into pulp twice this year. That is why so many Ravens fans post on every Steeler story now–they won’t have much to say later on. It is laughable!

  30. It was a promising win but I’m not ready to say PIT has turned a corner. Let’s remember it was the Bengals, not the Texans, Patriots, Broncos, or even the Ravens (I’m not ready to write them off just yet).

    At this point I’m happy playing one game at a time, and everyone staying healthy. I do like this Haley offense.

  32. It’s good to see Mike Adams stepping up after his disappointing start earlier this year. Glad to see Pouncey back, although Doug is doing fine if he needs to take more time. But this is frustrating news about Polamalu. Wish medical could give us a better understanding about why he seems so fragile and slow to heal. He’s really not that old.

  33. He still my Man but,I’m tired of seeing Troy on the sideline eating sun flower seeds and spitting into the camera. I think it’s getting close to putting a fork in him and called it a “Wrap”!

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