Steelers’ Allen has minor knee surgery
LATROBE – When the Steelers declined to re-sign free agent cornerback Keenan Lewis, they made the decision based on their desire to insert Cortez Allen into the starting lineup.
A week into training camp at Saint Vincent College, the Steelers have been waiting for Allen, a third-year corner, to get onto the field due to a sore knee.
Now, they’ll have to wait a little longer. Allen underwent a surgical procedure Friday to repair a slightly torn meniscus in his knee and will be out at least two weeks.
“We wanted him to get the surgery done now so he can begin rehabilitating immediately,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “This surgery was a minor procedure and will have no long-term effects on his return to the field. We look forward to his rehabilitation process and having him back on the field in a couple of weeks.”
Allen only participated in one practice – last Saturday – before sitting out the past week.
“We evaluated him,” said Tomlin. “We felt it was worthy of a cleanup. There were no surprises; it was very positive, actually.”
The 6-1, 198-pound product of The Citadel appeared in 15 games in 2012, starting three. He primarily played the nickel position, but slid to the outside opposite Lewis when Ike Taylor missed the final four games of the season with a broken bone in his ankle.
In the final two games, Allen had 15 tackles, two interceptions and forced three fumbles, recovering one.
Because of that playmaking ability, the Steelers, who had just 10 interceptions as a team in 2012, have been looking forward to putting Allen on the field on a full-time basis this season.
“He got plenty of snaps. It’s not wondering what he’s going to do or how is he going to do it,” said Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake of Allen. “It’s can we as a group hold up long enough to all stay on the field as starters. Last year, we had everybody playing. It was a challenge. We met the challenge.”
The Steelers already have seen their depth tested at the cornerback position in training camp. In addition to Allen, Terry Hawthorne, a fifth-round draft pick, has been sidelined with a knee injury, while DeMarcus Van Dyke has missed time with a hamstring injury.
Earlier this week, the Steelers signed cornerback Ryan Steed, who had been released by New Orleans, and Thursday they claimed former Pitt corner Buddy Jackson off waivers from Kansas City.
With Allen out, veteran corner William Gay, who was re-signed in the offseason after spening a year with Arizona, and third-year corner Curtis Brown have gotten more practice time with the first-team defense and when the team goes to its nickel package.
Rookie safety Shamarko Thomas, a fourth-round draft pick out of Syracuse, could also get more of a look in the nickel defense now that Allen is out for an extended period of time.
Odds and end zones
Tomlin said rookie guard Nik Embernate tore both the MCL and ACL in his knee at Thursday’s practice. No date has been set for surgery to repair the injury. … The Steelers flip-flopped offensive tackles Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert Friday, with Adams playing left tackle and Gilbert on the right side. Tomlin said it was just a move to take a look at them in those positions. … In addition to Allen, Hawthorne and Van Dyke, defensive end Brett Keisel, tight end Matt Spaeth and linebacker Jason Worilds (toe) did not practice Friday. Keisel and Spaeth were given a veteran’s day off. … Linebacker LaMarr Woodley (calf) returned Friday after sitting out a portion of Thursday’s practice. … Today’s afternoon session (3 p.m.) is open to the public.