There comes a point when the rehabilitation simply isn't working as planned. When the weeks taken off simply aren't getting the injury back to where it needs to be to perform at a high level. It is at this point when most turn to surgery to see if that would be a faster option than waiting out the injury.
As it turns out, this is exactly what happened with Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Bud Dupree which led to the team placing him on the injured reserve list.
Bud Dupree's surgery to repair his abdominal/groin injury took place last week.
— Ray Fittipaldo (@rayfitt1) September 4, 2016
Dupree had been nursing an injured groin for the majority of training camp, and the entire preseason, but it finally got to the point where surgery was the best course of action moving forward. After his sports hernia was surgically repaired, the Steelers knew injured reserve was the only option for them as the regular season was rapidly approaching.
Dupree was not a candidate for the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list because he practiced this year while at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA. Dupree being placed on IR means he will have to sit out 6 weeks before returning to practice, and another two weeks before he can be placed on the active roster.
The Steelers will now lean on Arthur Moats, Anthony Chickillo and possibly Jarvis Jones to anchor the left side of the defense until the time comes for Dupree to join his teammates on the field.
Pittsburgh opens their 2016 season on the road against Washington as the first part of a Monday Night Football double-header.