Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey has a broken bone in his left ankle along with the previously-announced high ankle sprain. His status for Super Bowl XLV Feb. 6 remains highly doubtful.
Steelers sources say they have not yet ruled him out of the game against the Green Bay Packers, but a number of teammates remain privately skeptical that he will be healthy enough to play.
Both Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Pouncey himself described the injury to the rookie Pro Bowler as a high ankle sprain, sustained on the opening drive of their 24-19 victory against the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game.
But, after further examination, it was determined Pouncey also has a broken bone in his ankle. His left foot and ankle were encased in a hard cast that replaced a walking boot. Pouncey has been using crutches to get around but has not been available to the media this week at the team’s training facility.
Sources told the Post-Gazette that while there is a broken bone, damage to the ligaments in his ankle remains the major stumbling block for him.
Pouncey was injured when Jets linebacker Bryan Thomas fell on the back of his left leg after being shoved by right tackle Flozell Adams. The play came at the tail end of a Ben Roethlisberger pass to Hines Ward that carried seven yards to the Jets one.
Doug Legursky replaced Pouncey at center and the Steelers scored on the next play when Rashard Mendenhall ran 1 yard into the end zone. Legursky played the rest of the game and likely will start in the Super Bowl. His backup would be guard/tackle Trai Essex, who has played just about every position on the offensive line this season.
Pouncey and Adams were the only players on the offensive line to start every game this season.
-Article from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette-
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