With it looking like Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Steve McLendon will miss the game Monday night with a shoulder injury, David Todd is reporting that rookie sixth-round draft pick Daniel McCullers will not only dress against the Tennessee Titans, he’ll also make his first career start.
BREAKING: In the state where he played his college ball, #Steelers rookie Daniel McCullers will make his first start at NT on Monday night.
— David Todd (@DavidMTodd) November 13, 2014
Defensive line coach John Mitchell apparently passed along the news to Todd during a Thursday interview that can be heard later on Steelers Nation Radio.
McCullers has played a total of 25 snaps so far in three games and he played a career-high 11 snaps in the Sunday loss to the New York Jets. That was the first game that he served as the primary backup to McLendon as Cam Thomas did not see a snap at nose tackle in that game.
McCullers played his college ball at Tennessee, so it will be an extra special night for him. He will more than likely only see time in the base and goal-line packages.
McLendon has battled a right shoulder injury for the last several weeks and will likely miss his third game of the season Monday night.
