Pittsburgh Steelers Concerned Over LaMarr Woodley’s Injury History
By Matt Shetler
Perhaps the biggest storyline of the Pittsburgh Steelers offseason involves the outside linebacker position and what the Steelers will do with both LaMarr Woodley and Jason Worilds.
Nov 10, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley (56) warms up prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
Although many believe that Worilds might be too expensive for the Steelers on the open market, but Steelers’ general manager Kevin Colbert believes he can potentially might keep both outside linebackers.
That may be wishful thinking as Worilds has already indicated that he will only be open to returning to Pittsburgh as a starter and I have a hard time thinking that if Woodley is back then the organization wouldn’t be paying him his enormous salary to not be on the field. I also have a hard time seeing them stunt the growth of last year’s first-round selection Jarvis Jones by not playing him.
But Colbert did show some concern over Woodley’s recent injury history, which could give you a good idea what his plans are.
Colbert said Woodley’s injuries over the past three seasons – the former Michigan star has missed 14 of 48 games – are a “concern” as “it would be for any player,” according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
While many believe it is as simple as cutting Woodley and signing Worilds, which is going to be tough for the Steelers to do.
Cutting Woodley would leave the Steelers with more than $14 million in dead money, a tough pill to swallow for a team already projected to be more than $10 million over the cap to begin with.
While Colbert kept quiet on whether or not the Steelers were considering cutting Woodley, he and the organization are concerned about bringing him back and watching him potentially sit out half the season again.