Steelers Blog

Steelers Playoff Diary – 1/8

Sunday, January 8

There are plenty of Terrible Towels in the crowd as the Steelers get ready for kickoff.

Steelers starting center Maurkice Pouncey is among those inactive for today’s game against the Broncos. Doug Legursky will start at center.

Also inactive are cornerback Cortez Allen, safety Ryan Clark, linebacker Mortty Ivy, tackle Jamon Meredith, running back Mewelde Moore and defensive end Al Woods.

Ryan Mundy will start at free safety for Clark.

As the Steelers prepare to take on the Broncos, running backs coach Kirby Wilson is in the thoughts of all of Steelers Nation.

“Kirby is a fighter, he is fighting,” said Coach Mike Tomlin. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family as we prepare to play this football game.”

Isaac Redman ready for action

Defensive teammates wrestle with Casey Hampton – a normal pre-game happening.

Steelers fans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver

Ben, Pouncey have a “shot” this week

Coach Mike Tomlin is not ready to rule out many players this week as the Steelers prepare to take on the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at 4:15 p.m., but two players not likely to play are running back Mewelde Moore and center/guard Doug Legursky.

“Some guys probably on the outside looking in from a health standpoint…Mewelde Moore continues to work his way back from his MCL sprain,” said Tomlin. “Doug Legursky is probably going to be a week away with his left shoulder. We’ll make the necessary adjustments there.

“All the other guys that have existing injuries or missed the last performance due to injury are in play as we sit here today.”

Among the players Tomlin said have a “shot” this week are center Maurkice Pouncey, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and linebacker LaMarr Woodley.

“Hopefully we get all of those guys back,” said Tomlin. “It’s our intention right now if the guys are healthy enough to practice and prepare, of course we will play them.”

Ben and Pouncey don’t practice

Four players missed practice on Thursday, including CB Curtis Brown (knee), RB Mewelde Moore (knee), C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) and QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle). Pouncey was limited on Wednesday, but held out on Thursday.

Limited in practice were LB Chris Carter (hamstring), WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot) and LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring), who did not participate at all on Wednesday.

For the Rams, QB Sam Bradford (ankle), QB A.J. Feeley (rt. thumb) and CB Justin King (shoulder) did not practice on Thursday.

Four players miss practice

Four players missed practice on Wednesday, including CB Curtis Brown (knee), RB Mewelde Moore (knee), QB Ben Roethlisberger (ankle)  and LB LaMarr Woodley (hamstring).

Two others were limited in practice – C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) and WR Emmanuel Sanders (foot).

For the Rams, QB Sam Bradford (ankle), QB A.J. Feeley (rt. thumb), CB Josh Gordy (abdomen), CB Justin King (shoulder) and DE Chris Long (ankle) did not practice.

Moore has MCL sprain

Running back Mewelde Moore suffered an MCL sprain against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night and is expected to miss at least this Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Rams at Heinz Field.

“Needless to say he won’t be available this week,” said Coach Mike Tomlin during his weekly press conference on Tuesday.

Tomlin, who said there could be a roster move because of Moore’s injury, also indicated that fellow running back Rashard Mendenhall was bothered by sore ribs following the game.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine, but he’ll have some discomfort here the early portions of the week,” said Tomlin.

Linebacker LaMarr Woodley started against the 49ers and didn’t have any problems with the hamstring that had been hampering him.

“LaMarr Woodley I thought did fine coming of his injury last night,” said Tomlin. “He was able to participate. We took him out at the end of the game as fatigue sets in, but he was fine.  No setbacks there.”

The Steelers are hoping to get three players back this week that missed the 49ers game, specifically linebacker Chris Carter, center Maurkice Pouncey and receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

Post-Game Reaction: Mewelde Moore

Running back Mewelde Moore Post-Game Reaction:

What happened when you came out with the injury?
“Right now I don’t know. I just have to wait and see. I’ll have to get looked at from the trainers and see what happens from there.”

Was it their front seven? Was it Ben being taken out of it and too much pressure being put on the run? What happened?
“They just did a great job all around, in coverage and in pressure. They did a great job up front and they took care of their assignments today. And they took care of business.”

The lights happened to both of you, but it left you guys not doing anything for a long time. Did that affect you at all? “You’re correct it happened to both of us, I mean there are two teams playing on that field. No matter what it’s all about being able to respond and come out there. We had our chances to come out and do the right things and put points on the board and we came up short.”

Moore’s return questionable

Mewelde Moore has a hamstring injury, his return is questionable.