Steelers lose Pouncey; Packers lose Nelson
Steelers linebacker James Harrison sacks Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the end zone for a safety in the first quarter Sunday at Heinz Field.
Packers running back Eddie Lacy attempts to elude the grasp of Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier. Lacy scored the game’s first touchdown.
Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey is taken from the field on a cart after being injured in the first quarter Sunday’s preseason game against Green Bay at Heinz Field.
PITTSBURGH – The No. 1 thing NFL teams want to accomplish in a preseason game is to make it through without any major injuries.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers both came out losers on that front Sunday at Heinz Field.
Pittsburgh center Maurkice Pouncey and Green Bay receiver Jordy Nelson went down in the Steelers’ 24-19 victory, with the long-term prognosis not looking good for either Pro Bowl player.
Pouncey suffered a broken left fibula that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said could require surgery. Pouncey was injured late in the first quarter when he was blocking on the edge and running back Le’Veon Bell and Green Bay linebacker Sam Barrington and safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix rolled up the back of his leg at the end of the play.
It resembled what happened to Pouncey in the opening game of the 2013 season when he suffered a torn ACL after being hit from behind by teammate David DeCastro, who was trying to execute a cut block. Pouncey missed the rest of that season.
“I think you know what he means to this team,” said Steelers guard Ramon Foster. “I think this time around is different. We’ve got more time to really get a solution for the problem.
“For this type of thing to happen to the guy, you’ve got to hate it. I know I do. You know how close we are. We’ve got to keep him around and keep his spirits up.”
The Steelers will turn to veteran backup center Cody Wallace while Pouncey is out. Typically, an injury such as Pouncey’s could keep him out eight to 10 weeks, which would make him a candidate to be placed on injured reserve with a designation to return as the team has done with linebacker Jarvis Jones, tight end Matt Spaeth and DeCastro in recent years.
Pouncey could have surgery to insert a metal plate, which would help speed the healing process.
“We’ve gotten a lot of reps together over the last couple of years,” said Wallace, who was signed by the team in 2013 when Pouncey was injured. “I think they feel comfortable with me, with all the guys on the line and the coaches.
“Hopefully, he’ll be good to go before too long.”
Nelson’s injury might be more troublesome. He went down after making an 8-yard catch on Green Bay’s opening possession without being touched.
The Packers fear he has a torn ACL, which would put him out for the season.
“Until we get back to Green Bay, I won’t have all of the information,” said Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy. “I’m looking for good news tomorrow.”
Despite the injuries in the first quarter to a pair of stars, the two teams played on.
Moments after Nelson went down, Green Bay’s Eddie Lacy scored a touchdown on a 7-yard run, capping off a 10-play drive for the Packers’ first-team offense. James Starks scored on a two-point conversion run to make it 8-0.
The Steelers stalled on their opening possession, despite converting a pair of third-and-longs, and were forced to punt.
Jordan Berry, who is locked in a battle with incumbent Brad Wing for the punting job, hit a beauty that was downed at the Green Bay one-yard line by Antwon Blake.
After rookie linebacker Bud Dupree stopped fullback John Kuhn for no gain on first down, the Steelers forced an incompletion on second down with pressure, then got a sack by James Harrison of Aaron Rodgers for a safety that cut Green Bay’s lead to 8-2.
The sack was one of six by the Steelers in the game – by six different players – after recording just three in their first two preseason games.
“Coach Tomlin challenged us earlier in the week about getting to the quarterback and making explosive plays,” said Jones, who also had a sack. “Guys did it. They were flying around, making plays.
“They challenged us to do more one-on-one pass rushing. There were not a lot of games run at all. Coach Tomlin wanted to see us straight rushing.”
Ben Roethlisberger threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Markus Wheaton on the Steelers’ first possession of the second quarter and left the game after completing 11 of 14 passes for 100 yards. Rodgers was 4 of 5 for 57 yards and did not return to the game following the safety.
Green Bay backup quarterback Scott Tolzien was 11 of 19 for 102 yards and a touchdown that came late in the first half.
Bruce Gradkowski relieved Roethlisberger and was 3 of 5 before suffering an injury to a finger on his hand during a botched snap that resulted in a fumble.
Landry Jones played the remainder of the game, completing 10 of 19 passes for 172 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
Jones’ first touchdown pass went to rookie Tyler Murphy, a college quarterback converting to wide receiver, with 10:09 remaining in the game to trim Green Bay’s lead to 19-18.
He then threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Shakim Phillips with 4:26 remaining in the fourth quarter to put the Steelers for good.
Second-year defensive end Stephon Tuitt suffered a sprained ankle in the first half for the Steelers and did not return. Tomlin said it is a week-to-week injury. … Berry and Wing punted a combined six times and have five of them downed inside the opposing 20. … Murphy led the Steelers with four receptions for 61 yards, while DeAngelo Williams was the leading rusher with four carries for 20 yards. … In addition to Jones and Harrison, Bud Dupree, Ian Wild, L.J. Fort and Shamarko Thomas also had sacks for the Steelers.