Pittsburgh Steelers Willie Colon Shelved Again
By Matt Shetler
After a brutal performance as a unit Sunday afternoon in Baltimore, the last thing the Pittsburgh Steelers could afford was an injury to an offensive line that’s otherwise thin on talent to begin with.
Yet that’s exactly the news that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin relayed on Tuesday when he let in be known that Willie Colon would be lost for the season after suffering a torn tricep in the season opening loss to the Ravens.
It marks the second straight season that Colon has failed to make it past the season’s first week, and this year his loss could be felt in a big way.
While Colon would never be confused with an All=Pro, he is a major piece of a Steelers offense line that’s pretty much viewed as average at best.
For Colon, it has to be a sad day after he worked so hard to return after a season-ending injury in 2010. He earned himself a new contract, but similar to last year, he will have to watch any potential Steelers Super Bowl run in street clothes.
Rookie Marcus Gilbert gets the first shot in the starting lineup, as this year’s second-round pick will jump into the starting lineup at right tackle for Sunday’s home opener against the Seattle Seahawks. Gilbert impressed the coaching staff in the preseason and could offer up a glimpse of the future for Steelers fans.
To take Colon’s spot on the active roster, the Steelers signed well-traveled veteran Jamon Meredith to fill Colon’s roster spot. Meredith, who played a total of five games for three teams last year, was waived by the New York Giants this month.
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