Center Maurkice Pouncey may miss the Steelers’ entire 2015 season after having a second surgery on his left fibula because infection had set in.
Pouncey, on short-term injured reserve, was preparing to start practicing next week, but because of the infection, surgeons had to go back in to take out the metal plate that had been inserted during the first surgery and clean up the infection.
A source told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Pouncey will “probably” miss the rest of the season, but he will get a second opinion from another doctor first. He had been eligible to return to practice next week and return to play against the Oakland Raiders Nov. 8.
The Steelers still could carry him the rest of the way in the hopes he might be able to return late or in time for the playoffs, if they make it.
Pouncey missed all of the 2013 season with a torn ACL. He returned to play every game in 2014 and earn his second All-Pro honor and fourth Pro Bowl. He injured his ankle and fibula in the team’s third preseason game Aug. 23 against Green Bay at Heinz Field and had subsequent surgery.
Cody Wallace replaced Pouncey at center to start the season and, coincidentally, no starting offensive lineman has missed any of the Steelers’ five regular-season games. Wallace joined the Steelers in 2013 and wound up starting four games at center that December for Pouncey’s replacement, Fernando Velasco. The Steelers signed Wallace, 30, to a three-year contract in 2014 to serve as Pouncey’s backup.
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NOTE — The injury report from prctice Thursday: Safety Will Allen (ankle) did not practice, offensive lineman Doug Legursky (back) did practice, and the following were listed as limited: quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, cornerback Cortez Allen (knee), outside linebacker Jarvis Jones (hip) and inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (shoulder).
First Published: October 15, 2015, 7:33 p.m.
Updated: October 16, 2015, 12:12 a.m.
