I was really looking forward to seeing Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke finally get some playing time during the upcoming preseason, but now that he has suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday, that head coach Mike Tomlin described as significant on Wednesday, I am starting to think we won\’t see him at all.
Van Dyke, who was claimed off waivers from the Oakland Raiders just prior to the start of the 2012 season, is no longer eligible for the practice squad, so this year is essentially a do or die one for the Miami product.
In addition to not being eligible for the practice squad, Van Dyke is also not eligible to be placed on the Active or Reserve PUP list being as he has already practiced during training camp.
So what options do the Steelers have with Van Dyke should they decide they need his spot on the 90 man roster? Well, they would have to waive him injured.
Should that be the ultimate decision, Van Dyke would then revert back to the Steelers injured reserve list, assuming he clears waivers, as the organization would then be responsible for his rehab. At any time, however, they could work out an injury settlement with him, but more than likely they would carry him until he is ready to be waived healthy from injured reserve.
Van Dyke was already on the roster bubble prior to suffering the injury as it was, but now that he figures to be sidelined a while, you would have to think that bubble has popped for him.
With Van Dyke presumably out of the running now for one of the few cornerback spots open on the 53 man roster, both Josh Victorian and Isaiah Green figure to benefit from his misfortune. Victorian of course has the inside track being as he actually played on defense late last year due to all the injuries.
Keep in mind that starter Cortez Allen and rookie Terry Hawthorne are both currently watching practices on the sidelines, so all the young cornerbacks on the roster are getting extra reps to show what they have.
