Injuries Could Continue To Follow the Pittsburgh Steelers

Photo: John Biever/SI

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been absolutely ravished by injuries in recent years, especially last season. So many key players missed crucial games to due to injuries, Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu, Rashard Mendenhall, LaMarr Woodley, and James Harrison, just to name a few.


Here's a breakdown of games missed from key players:

Roethlisberger missed 3 starts due to a shoulder injury. Even with a different offense and a better offensive line they can't keep him from getting injured.

Polamalu missed 9 starts with a calf injury. I guess being a part-time Sherpa isn't helping him reduce injuries.

Woodley missed 3 starts for being grossly overweight and out of shape. Thank god Hostess went out of business. Oh they're back? Shit.

Harrison also missed 3 starts for being old and having an old man's back with old man knees.

Mendenhall only started 4 games and played in six because he tore his ACL the year before. Then the Steelers pretty much told him Fuck you and he told the Steelers fuck you in return by not showing up to games.

Byron Leftwich got hurt scoring a touchdown without anyone even touching him.

Antonio Brown missed 3 games with a ankle injury, probably making Harlem Shake videos.

David Decastro their first round pick got injured in the preseason against the Buffalo Bills, missed all but 4 games, and only started 3 of them. Yikes.

Willie Colon couldn't be outdone by any of them, as he went on the IR for the third straight season. He is Mr. IR.

Now the Steelers are looking at veteran Ahmad Bradshaw, who even though he's a good player, and would certainly upgrade their running backs situation, is extremely injury prone. Bradshaw has a foot that may never-ever be fully healthy again.

The Steelers are also looking at Jarvis Jones, a very talented linebacker from Georgia as their potential first round pick. Jones is a beast and based on talent and production he's a top five worthy pick. But here comes the "but". Jones suffers from spinal stenosis which is a abnormal narrowing of the spinal canal. This causes a restriction to the spinal canal which can lead to pain, numbness, and even loss of motor control.

Some teams have even taken Jones completely off of their board because with just one hit, Jone's playing days can be over. You know who else suffered from this same medical disorder? Cooper Manning, Petyon and Eli's brother.

Do the Steelers really want to take another player that could become a injury prone player? Don't they have enough of those already? I mean it is football and any player can get injured at any given time but drafting Jones is just asking for trouble.

Furthermore, how come the Steelers can't be more prepared for injuries like other teams? Without Big Ben in the lineup they are a sub-.500 football team. Without Polamalu the defense is completely different and makes zero plays. Last year, the Baltimore Ravens were missing Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs for most of their season, they won the Super Bowl. When the Steelers lose key players they panic. It's called being unprepared. That stems from the front office and the coaching staff.

Also, maybe the Steelers might want to look into switching up the training staff. Just saying. Here's hoping for less injuries in 2013.