With the season winding down, the discussion is slowly turning towards which Pittsburgh Steelers players might be playing their final few games in the black and gold. One of those players that might not get to put on the uniform at all for the final two games is defensive end Brett Keisel, who is currently sidelined with a foot problem.
Keisel, who is 35 years of age and in the final year of his contract, sounds like he’s not ready to call it quits after 12 seasons.
“I’m never going to quit,” Keisel told steelers.com. “I understand what’s going on with this being the last year of my contract, and I’m the oldest guy on the defense and what not. I still feel like I can play if I’m healthy.
“That’s probably been the most frustrating part, knowing I can still do it and not being able to.”
Before going down in the game against the Buffalo Bills back in Week 10 with his foot problem, Keisel had registered two sacks, four hits and 14 hurries on the season and that translates to a modest 6.5 pass rush productivity number.
Being as Keisel is well on the wrong side of 30, his chances of returning in 2014 are slim. If the Steelers do decide to bring him back for one more ride, however, the Brigham Young product would have to sign a one-year qualifying contract for the minimum with no guarantee he will start. Those kind of decisions are also usually put off until June or later, so Keisel will have quite a wait ahead of him.
Right now, Keisel just wants to make it back on the field before the season is over.
“This has been hell, just sitting around and wishing I could be out there with my teammates,” he said.
