Steelers Injury Report going into Super Bowl 43
by schnifin on Jan 20, 2009 3:36 PM EST
22 comments
As per Dale Lolley via Tomlin's press conference
Injury update:
Here's what Mike Tomlin has to say about injuries Tuesday:
"Hines Ward has a right knee sprain. We’re going to do everything in our power to make sure he gets the medical attention he needs. In his mind, he’s playing. So chances are, he is. It’s not going to be comfortable between now and game day in terms of making that happen. But it’s not about comfort, particularly for Hines. This guy, this morning, was down there aggressively getting after his rehabilitation and putting himself in position to help this football team. We’re definitely not going to count him out. We’re going to save a seat on the bus for 86."
Other injuries are:
Mewelde Moore right ankle sprain.
Darnell Stapleton ankle sprain.
Patrick Bailey hamstring strain.
Justin Hartwig knee
Max Starks knee sprain
The biggest concern of course is Ward. I expect he will be ready to go but I'm sure the Steelers will have an extra wideout active. The logical choice is Martin Nance from the practice squad. Nance, like Mewelde Moore, played for the Vikings when Tomlin was coaching there. However, Nance was also Ben's #1 reciever at Miami University. He was considered a firsty day talent until blowing out his knee in his Senior year. So Ben and he definitely have a comfort level (I even saw them hanging out together a few weeks ago at the Pitt-Miami bball game). The other option would be signing someone. The other logical choice here would be former Steeler Dallas Baker although it seems Baker would have Nance's spot on the practice squad if they felt he was the better option.
And after the past two weeks you have to wonder if either of these guys has a shot to leapfrog Limas Sweed on the depth chart.
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Superbowl 43
or we call it
Superbowl 7
I just realized that those are both some good numbers.
by steelguy99 on Jan 20, 2009 4:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Offensive line
That is 60% of the offensive line on the injury list…
Black and Gold till I die!
by IowaSteeler on Jan 20, 2009 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It’s all minor except for maybe Ward.
by steelguy99 on Jan 20, 2009 4:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I'd imagine
that they’d have to amputate Ward’s leg before he’d miss playing in the Super Bowl. And even then I’d bet he’d be out there … maybe hopping along for a 6 to 7 yard curl route instead of the 12 to 18 yard range, but still picking up first downs along the way.
by Fahey on Jan 20, 2009 4:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
lol
hey fahey..been wondering where ya been. Cheers.
by Blitzburgh on Jan 20, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cheers to the Super Bowl!
I’ve been looking in on the posts regularly, but work’s been absolutely brutal these past few weeks … so my usual wit & brilliant insight has been reserved for thousands of bullshit financial documents :) … where it’s then transformed into disaffected cynicism & fatigue.
by Fahey on Jan 20, 2009 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I hear ya
that was an eloquent way of putting it.
1. The Steelers are coming to Tampa for the Superbowl
2. the US has a new president (sorry blitz, it’s central to my point)
two momentous events and I don’t even really care because my work is busting me down.
"It was an attrition football game and you know we like that."
by showtime on Jan 20, 2009 8:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm...
This hines injury is starting to look a bit more serious than i previously thought it was.
It’s not going to be comfortable between now and game day in terms of making that happen. But it’s not about comfort, particularly for Hines.
I sure hop he does not only play, but play effectively. I dont feel comfortable going into this game needing Sweed to make a catch or two, plus ward is our third down go-to guy… not good!
by steelersfan86 on Jan 20, 2009 7:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
ward
he will be there, a slight sprain, 2 weeks to heal, plenty of time, he just gonna have to work like crazy to get back and he will, and once the game gets going and it loosens up (like polomalu’s calf) he’ll be fine.
by tannofsteel84 on Jan 21, 2009 12:35 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
An mcl sprain like he has usually knocks a guy out for a few games, including Kiesle and Willie Parker earlier this year. I don’t think his sprain is as “slight” as you seem to think.
by worldtrip on Jan 21, 2009 12:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
right.
Parker missed like 5 weeks and Kiesel 4.
by Jonny B. on Jan 21, 2009 1:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Hmmm....
Hines doesn’t have an ACL, and he has had a tremendous career anyway. Maybe we should just have someone go in and remove his MCL as well. No MCL means no sprain.
by CarlWeathersMustache on Jan 21, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Iffy for Hines' return
Tomlin’s comment, “It’s not going to be comfortable between now and game day in terms of making that (Hines’ return) happen” is an acknowledgment that the injury is probably more than “slight”. But there is no standard recovery time because no two knee injuries are the same. A knee injury especially is difficult to assess right away because the excess fluid in the joint gets in the way of diagnosis and treatment. Everyone will know a lot more in the next couple days. Hines can be effective at much less than 100 per cent because his main assets are his intelligence and competitive spirit. He knows how to read Ben’s scrambles and puts himself in position to make a catch, not by making great physical moves but by figuring out the coverage and where Ben needs him to be. If he jogs two days in a row next week, he’ll probably be fine.
by steeler.lifer on Jan 21, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Man, I really hopes Hines makes it back.
by Jonny B. on Jan 21, 2009 1:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
He has 1,021 yards in 13 post-season games. He is about to break John Stallworth’s team record. Stallworth amassed 1,054 yards in 17 games. One more solid SB will be one more solid reason to vote for Hines for the HOF when the time comes. It worked for Swanny.
by Jonny B. on Jan 21, 2009 1:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Agree
Hines’ lack of Pro Bowls means he needs playoff success to have a strong HOF resume. Another solid post season game gets him that much closer. One more SB MVP would ice it for sure.
by CarlWeathersMustache on Jan 21, 2009 11:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
good news
Ward said today that he would play even if the Super Bowl were THIS Sunday, so it seems certain that he’ll be on the field for the game. Obviously there’s still the question of how healthy his knee will be, but as others have mentioned, even a less-than-full-strength Hines Ward can be quite effective.
by nycsteeler on Jan 21, 2009 3:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
link
here’s a link to the (brief) P-G article:
by nycsteeler on Jan 21, 2009 3:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
MCL sprain = 2-4 weeks
When the Titans Albert Haynesworth sprained his MCL, I read that the typical MCL sprain takes 2 to 4 weeks to recover. Haynesworth’s sprain was pretty severe (he had to be helped off the field and did not return to the game), and he missed 4 weeks, although he might have played in the 3rd week if the Titans did not have a bye.
Ward’s injury seemed less severe, because he was able to limp off the field, come back into the game for a play or two, and walk to and from the locker room for treatment. Given that, and his maniacal rehab (including use of a hyperbaric oxygen chamber), he could be on the short side of the recovery time.
I think Ward will almost certainly play, but he may not be 100%, and there is the possibility that he could reinjure the knee during the game. Since it is the final game of the season, there is no reason for him not to risk playing.
by Steelin on Jan 23, 2009 12:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Mewelde Moore MIA?
It looked like Mewelde missed most of the second half of the Ravens game with his ankle sprain. Carey Davis was the third-down back on several plays, and Santonio was returning all punts. So MM’s injury could be significant.
Did any of the O-linemen missed any game time due to their injuries?
by Steelin on Jan 23, 2009 12:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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