Casey Hampton and Rashard Mendenhall off the PUP list

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The Steelers activated veteran nose tackle Casey Hampton and veteran running back Rashard Mendenhall from the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) List, the team announced today.

Hampton is in his 12th season with the Steelers and has played in 157 career games with 146 career starts. A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Hampton was recovering from a knee injury in the offseason.

Mendenhall is in his fifth year with the Steelers after originally being the team’s first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Mendenhall has two 1,000-yard rushing seasons and has amassed 3,367 yards rushing in his first four years. He was recovering from a knee injury that he suffered in the 2011 regular-season finale at Cleveland.

Wow!! When will we see them on he field?

Steelers bolster depleted stable of runners with Mendenhall off PUP list (read more)

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The Pittsburgh Steelers have just announced that two additional players that began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list have now been activated. The first, nose tackle Casey Hampton, is no great surprise, as he was expected to have been able to recover for the beginning of the regular season.

The second, however, is certainly somewhat surprising: running back Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall was expected to the regular season on the PUP list, which would require that he miss at least the first 6 games of the season.

What the move now means is that he can not be placed on the regular season PUP list; in order to qualify for the regular season PUP list, a player must have begun training camp there and remained there throughout. Having now been activated, he must now be carried on the regular 53 man roster.

Mendenhall, like Hampton, tore his ACL very late in the season. However, Hampton’s position is far less demanding on the knee ligament. Linemen are far more likely to make a comparatively quick from an ACL tear than a skill position player whose dynamics rely on sharp cuts that test the ligament.

The implications of Mendenhall’s activation are immense. The ground game in Pittsburgh was already expected to be a point of emphasis in terms of becoming more efficient, and new offensive coordinator Todd Haley has had his hands full in terms of injuries at the position thus far.

In addition to Mendenhall, backup Isaac Redman, who is expected to carry the load in the early portions of the season, has been battling a groin injury that has flared up in the past week following the first preseason game. He reportedly had an MRI yesterday and is unlikely to play Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts.

John Clay suffered a season ending groin injury himself, and starting fullback David Johnson tore his ACL and MCL in the first preseason game, also ending his season. Jonathan Dwyer, the remaining back with the most experience totaling 25 rushing attempts in two seasons, finally got back just yesterday from a shoulder sprain suffered in the first preseason game.

The left just second year man Baron Batch, who missed his rookie season with a torn ACL, and rookie Chris Rainey, who is not an every down back. The Steelers brought in another rookie, Jason Ford, just to add a warm body to the mix.

Stunning news that Mendy is off the PUP. I almost would have bet my life he would start the season on it and miss the first 6 games minimally. It's definitely welcome and timely considering the rash of RB injuries we've been having. I just hope they aren't rushing it too much.

Even though it's nice to know Snack is back, I'd rather McLendon see the lion's share if time at NT. Hamp could be another insurance policy like Max Starks is for the offense. Hamp's best days are behind him, but he should still be able to contribute some as a backup and mentor for the rest of the d-line.

Welcome back, fellas!