Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians spoke to the media per his usual Thursday session and Ken Laird has the transcript up for you to read. Arians told the media that left guard Chris Kemoeatu is dealing with a number of injuries right now that include his balky knee and a bad hand. Arians stated in the interview that Kemoeatu likely would not have played Sunday against the Texans if the Steelers had other healthy options heading into that game. He went on to speculate that now that they have enough healthy bodies that Kemoeatu could be out a few weeks to give him a chance to get healthy.
The injury to Kemoeatu now means that Doug Legursky will start at left guard this week against the Titans and Ramon Foster will make a second straight start at right guard. Legursky is the more mobile of the two and he can pull right better on trap plays, one of the things Kemoeatu usually excels at. Legursky sat out last week against the Texans with a shoulder injury suffered the previous week against the Colts.
The health of Kemoeatu might have led to the re-signing of tackle Max Starks as well. Trai Essex will now go back to being the swing guard and the Steelers may have to release reserve lineman Jamon Meredith for the weekend to activate practice squad running back John Clay to the 53 man roster if indeed Rashard Mendenhall and Mewelde Moore both can\’t go this weekend. Should Starks end up starting at left tackle, Jonathan Scott will be the swing tackle or visa-verse. Regardless of who starts at left tackle, the Steelers now look ready to roll out their 5th different starting offensive line combination in as many games.
