David DeCastro Injury: Not Season-Ending, Says C Maurkice Pouncey

Post-Gazette reporter Ed Bouchette wrote about Steelers' RG David DeCastro's knee injury Tuesday, quoting several Steelers players who feel DeCastro will be back at some point this season.

That's the good news. It also suggests the surgery DeCastro is scheduled to have Wednesday won't have a long recovery time - or, at least longer than an NFL season.

Said Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey: "it's a good thing it ain't season-ending. He'll be able to fight back toward the end of the year. He doesn't look down about it. He's accepted what happened and ready to move forward with it."

Speaking of moving forward, the Steelers are adjusting to life without DeCastro by seemingly doing nothing in particular.

And that's not a bad thing.

Injuries cannot be planned for specifically, but generally, teams can work back-ups as starters, at least from a mental perspective. The longer they work, the more likely they'll be to step in and perform well despite the absence of the starter.

Ramon Foster is an example of that. Through his four years with the team, he's been the replacement for injured starters time and again. In fact, it could be seen as an advantage the Steelers will have his added experience to the offensive line. The unit has certainly taken its share of overhauls and barbs over the last two years, but in a weird twist (no pun intended), the Steelers are returning four of last year's starters in Foster, Pouncey, LT Max Starks and RT Marcus Gilbert.

It's somewhat ironic injuries had to occur for the Steelers to get the combination of offensive linemen with the most experience playing together.

The Week 1 starting lineup will be different than it was for the team's first three preseason games (not counting Thursday's preseason finale, when the Steelers will likely sit any starter after a series at most), which isn't anything unusual. But removing Chris Kemoeatu from left guard and adding Willie Colon - one of the best offensive linemen the Steelers have - ends up being the big change from last season to this season.

Continuity has to count for something.

Or, at least it should count for something until DeCastro returns. Whenever that may be.

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