It didn’t take long for some interesting news to start flowing out of Steelers training camp.
As reported by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette on Saturday, five players–starting center Maurkice Pouncey, back-up tackle Mike Adams, back-up quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, outside linebacker Shawn Lemon and rookie cornerback 2nd round pick Senquez Golson–will begin camp on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list.
- Obviously, being a perennial Pro Bowl player, Pouncey’s name is the most notable on the list with a foot issue, but according to head coach Mike Tomlin, it’s “very minor.”
- Next up on the notable list would have to be Adams, the team’s second round pick in 2012, who has yet to live up to his hype or the chance the Steelers took on him, when it appeared nobody wanted to touch him in the days leading up to the Draft, thanks to some character issues (he failed a drug test at the NFL Combine that February). In June of 2013, Adams was involved in an incident on Pittsburgh’s South Side, where he was attacked by three men and stabbed. After a horrendous start in the regular season, Adams was eventually replaced at left tackle by Kelvin Beachum. Now, for Adams, in the final year of his rookie contract, even his spot as a back-up might be in jeopardy, as he’s expected to miss four weeks while still recovering from offseason back surgery. Here’s another quote from Tomlin, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette: “We got it evaluated and decided to put it behind us,” Tomlin said. “He’s been dealing with it the majority of the offseason.”
- The reason for Gradkowski’s name appearing on the list is due to shoulder fatigue. This could be something to be concerned with; then again, it could just be a reason to get someone like Landry Jones more reps.
- As for the rookie Golson (shoulder), according to Tomlin, it’s a wait and see approach in-terms of the seriousness of his injury: “We’ll see. He’s not good enough to go. I’ll give you an update when I get it.”
Players who begin training camp on the PUP list cannot participate in any activities, but they can remain on the list until the beginning of the regular season and can be activated at a later time.
