Isaac Redman Injury Exploits Thin Steelers’ Backfield
By Matt Shetler
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back situation was already thin with Rashard Mendenhall injured and on the reserve/physically unable to perform list., but things could have just gone from thin to very shaky with the groin injury to starter Isaac Redman.
Redman had an MRI on his injured groin on Thursday after trying to practice the first time in a week Wednesday, but he wound up falling “painfully on all fours” before being attended to by trainers, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
No one knows how Redman will perform as the featured back week in and week out, but if he’s banged up, it certainly will limit his production. That alone could force new offensive coordinator Todd Haley to put the ball in Ben Roethlisberger’s hands even more, which truth be told wouldn’t be such a bad idea given the weapons Roethlisberger has around him.
Assuming Redman made his injury worse, that leaves the Steelers with only Jonathan Dwyer, rookie Chris Rainey and Baron Batch as healthy running backs and Dwyer injured his shoulder in the first preseason game, even though the injury wasn’t serious.
The point is that the Steelers have no running back depth at all.
Could that prompt them to bring in a veteran like Ryan Grant? It’s doubtful, but it might not be the worst idea in the world.
It’s only been a couple weeks of camp, but injuries have been the story so far.
Steelers’ fans must now hold their breath and hope Redman’s groin injury isn’t serious.