Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey left the Saturday night preseason game against the Falcons early after aggravating his left ankle injury. It was the same ankle that Pouncey injured last year in the AFC Championship game against the Jets last year that ended up preventing him from playing in the Super Bowl. Pouncey was held out for the rest of the game against the Falcons, but told Scott Brown on Monday that he wants to play against the Panthers this Thursday even though he will not practice today.
Pouncey told Brown today that calcium builds up in his left ankle and that once it breaks down it gets sore. He went on to say that it\’s alright though and not that bad. As Brown pointed out on Twitter, it could be lingering type injury and may be something that Pouncey has to deal with all season. Pouncey was asked if anything could keep him out of opener versus the Ravens and said, “Heck no, I\’d have to break it again.”
Despite the want of Pouncey to play in the preseason finale, I do not think it would be a wise choice and I bet head coach Mike Tomlin feels the same way. The rest would do Pouncey some good and Doug Legursky could use the extra work against the Panthers in addition. The Steelers will have 80 men on the roster heading into the Thursday night game and now is the time to use them. Look for John Malecki to get extended playing time at center once Legursky exits.
