So much for the best laid plans of mice and men. No sooner did Steel Curtain Rising publish an article on Cody Wallace’s record as a Steelers starter than did news arrive the that Pittsburgh Steelers had signed Doug Legursky….
#Steelers sign C-G Doug Legursky and put WR David Nelson on IR. Yinz remember Doug.
— James C Wexell (@jimwexell) August 25, 2015
To make room for Legursky, the Steelers put wide receiver David Nelson on injured reserved. For those reading the later name and asking “Who?” the Steelers signed David Nelson when they put place kicker Shaun Suisham on injured reserve.
Doug Legursky’s Second Act in Pittsburgh
Doug Legursky broke into the NFL as one of the Kevin Colbert’s undrafted rookie free agent finds. Legursky was part of the Steelers 2008 undrafted rookie free agent class and while he went on and off the roster James Harrison style, he joined the practice squad in October of that year and stuck.
The next year in training camp, Legursky proved himself capable enough that he earned a final roster spot, as Mike Tomlin labeled him “This year’s Darnell Stapleton.” and he made a strong enough accounting of himself that he made the team’s final roster.
- Legursky didn’t see a lot of action in 2009, although the team did use him in spot duty as a fullback.
In 2010 Legursky made four straight starts at guard for the Steelers in place of Trai Essex, and after Maurkice Pouncey suffered a high ankle sprain in the Steelers AFC Championship victory over the New York Jets, Legursky stepped forward to start in Super Bowl XLV.
Legursky started 11 games for the Steelers in 2011, where he saw duty both at guard and center. When Pouncey suffered another late season ankle injury it fell to Legursky to take up the starting reigns at center for the Steelers in their Tebowing at Denver in the playoffs that year.
Despite his versatility and position flexibly, the Steelers let Doug Legursky go in free agency after the 2012 season. Despite having started the Steelers last two playoff games, his departure was considered so insignificant that neither of the Pittsburgh dailies covered Legursky’s decision to sign with the Buffalo Bills.
- Nonetheless, the Steelers came to rue the decision, as they had no one other than Kelvin Beachum to insert at center when Pouncey was injured in the 2013 season opener vs. Tennessee.
Cody Wallace will likely remain the starter, but the headline “Steelers sign Doug Legursky” signals that the Pittsburgh brain trust does not have full confidence in Chris Hubbard or B.J. Finney’s ability to back up Cody Wallace at center and/or Ramon Foster or David DeCastro at guard.
