Willie or won\’t he? That is the biggest unknown right now as the Pittsburgh Steelers get set to face the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Left guard Willie Colon was listed as questionable on the Friday injury report after practicing on a limited basis. It was his only such practice of the week in addition.
Last week Colon showed up on the Friday injury report with his knee injury. He tried to go through warm-ups prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns, but head coach Mike Tomlin said it was obvious that he couldn\’t go. Colon did not play.
With Colon out on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, center Maurkice Pouncey took snaps at left guard with Doug Legursky taking the first team snaps at center.
The Steelers promoted interior lineman John Malecki from the practice squad early in the week in addition. Would they have done this if he was just going to be inactive Sunday? They could have easily waited until Saturday if they thought Colon had a chance to play.
Also, the activation of rookie David DeCastro from the designated to return list didn\’t have to be done this week if there were any doubts that he couldn\’t dress and play this week.
Keep in mind that the Steelers haven\’t dressed eight offensive linemen at any point this season. Will Sunday be a first for that? If so, who sits down to allow that to happen?
So, is Willie going to play today, or will we see Pouncey make his first NFL start at left guard? I am betting Willie won\’t. We will have are answer to this question 90 minutes prior to kickoff when the inactive list are turned in.
Pouncey starting at left guard? I never dreamed we would see that happen this season.
