With the Pittsburgh Steelers set to begin their annual OTA practices on Tuesday, here is a quick recap of the players who entered the offseason with injuries and those who had surgeries scheduled.
C Maurkice Pouncey (fibula) – Pouncey might not be allowed to participate in practices this coming week as he continues to rehab the left fibula that he broke last year during the preseason that reportedly required a second surgery after an infection set in during the 2015 regular season.
RB Le’Veon Bell (knee) – Even though he’s posted several videos of himself playing basketball this offseason, the Steelers are likely to hold Bell out of all OTA practices being as he’s still not fully recovered from the serious knee injury that he suffered midway through the 2015 regular season.
K Shaun Suisham (knee) – It’s hard to know if Suisham is ready to resume kicking again even though his original knee injury took place last year during the Steelers first preseason game last year.
CB Senquez Golson (shoulder) – Several are expecting Golson to be able to participate fully in the team’s OTA practices this year after being forced to miss his entire rookie season due to a shoulder injury that he suffered last year during the offseason.
S Mike Mitchell (shoulder) – While Mitchell recently posted on Instagram that he has resumed lifting weights again following offseason shoulder surgery, the Steelers might decide to hold him out of their initial OTA practices.
QB Bruce Gradkowski (shoulder) – Being as Gradkowski was re-signed a few weeks ago, one would think that he has fully recovered from surgery on his shoulder that cost him the entire 2015 season. It will be interesting to see if he indeed is allowed to practice during the team’s first week of OTA practices.
TE Matt Spaeth (knee) – Spaeth required minor knee surgery earlier in the offseason and that was only expected to sideline him a number of weeks.
LB Ryan Shazier (knee) – Like Spaeth, Shazier reportedly had minor knee surgery after the 2015 season ended and one would think he should be healthy enough to begin practicing again as soon as this week.
P Jordan Berry (shoulder) – Berry had shoulder surgery immediately after the 2015 season and thus should be able to participate in some capacity in the team’s OTA practices.
G David DeCastro (ankle) – After the 2015 season ended, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin indicated that DeCastro needed minor ankle surgery. It is unknown as to whether or not he’ll be allowed to participate in the team’s upcoming OTA practices.
T Marcus Gilbert (ankle) – Like DeCastro, Gilbert reportedly needed minor ankle surgery earlier in the offseason so we’ll have to wait and see if he’s ready to resume practicing this week.
RB DeAngelo Williams (foot) – Williams is expected to be a full-go this week now that he has recovered from a foot injury suffered late last season that forced him to miss both of the Steelers playoff games. The injury reportedly didn’t require him to undergo surgery.
FB Roosevelt Nix (foot) – Nix, who broke a bone in his foot late during the 2015 season, should be fully recovered from his subsequent surgery by now.
WR Eli Rogers (foot) – Rogers is expected to be able to practice fully starting this week after missing his entire rookie season due to a foot injury that he suffered last year during the team’s early training camp practices.
