Today’s news confirmed the worst for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Rashard Mendenhall, as Ed Bouchette reports on PG Plus, as are numerous other sources reporting, the Mendenhall did in fact tear his ACL.
That leaves the team with 3 running backs heading into the playoffs, in the form of Isaac Redman, John Clay, and Mewelde Moore.
Mendenhall is not the only injury the Steelers suffered in defeating the Browns. They lost cornerbacks Keenan Lewis to a hamstring injury and Cortez Allen to a separated shoulder injury. While neither injury is expected to be season-ending, their availability for the playoff game in Denver has to be in doubt.
Factor in the fact that Ryan Clark will likely be unavailable to play, and the Steelers are mighty thin at defensive back for their first road playoff game since visiting Denver for the 2005 AFC Championship.
Thanks for visiting. Click here to follow us on Twitter @SteelCurtainRis.
Man, that’s why end of season games are always so touchy. It’s a shame they lost Mendenhall, but it’s all about running the football at key moments. If they can do that, they should be ok in the running game. As for having to bring Anthony Madison back for the secondary? That’s a little scary.
I agree. Madison on special teams is probably still a net plus, although the unit’s been strong this year.
Madison in the secondary…. Well, what else can we say besides, “He knows the system.”