Recapping the Steelers' 17-16 victory over the Panthers (Read More)
The Pittsburgh Steelers closed out their preseason slate with a narrow win, as well as a crushing loss. And only the loss will count next week. The Steelers defeated the Carolina Panthers in Heinz Field on Thursday night on a missed last second 50 yard field goal, but in the process, they lost promising rookie linebacker Sean Spence for the year.
As is always the case in the preseason, the true victories are exiting games with no serious injuries. So while the scoreboard may have read 17-16 in favor of the Steelers, not a man felt much to celebrate as they thought of their beloved teammate.
Late in the third quarter, Spence came on a blitz on a third and long and got tangled with a blocker. He got his foot caught in the grass, and his leg bent back awkwardly. After being carted off the field in obvious pain, head coach Mike Tomline revealed after the game that he was taken to the hospital.
He reportedly suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, lateral cruciate ligament, and dislocated knee cap, and will surely be placed on injured reserve, ending his rookie season before it ever truly began.
In addition to the severe injury for Spence, second year cornerback Curtis Brown also suffered a knee injury after recovering a muffed punt in the first half. Tomlin later said that he does not know if it is a major injury.
Undrafted rookie linebacker Adrian Robinson also appeared to suffer some type of back injury late in the game, but was only kept off the field for one play. Undrafted rookie safety Robert Golden suffered a hamstring injury and did not return to the game.
These injuries surely further complicate what was already promising to be a very difficult and long night for the Steelers’ coaching staff, as they must decide on Friday on which 22 players will no longer be on the roster as team league-wide cut down from 75 man to 53 man rosters. It is possible that the team searches the waiver wire to secure depth at inside linebacker to replace Sean Spence, for example.
With all of the above injury news stated, which highlights the preeminence of health over performance in the preseason, there was indeed a game played, and it is worth recapping the events of the performance.
