The hits keep on coming in the Green Bay Packers versus Pittsburgh Steelers preseason game. Just minutes after Jordy Nelson left with a non-contact injury, Steelers' center Maurkice Pouncey was carted off the field with a left ankle injury.
Pouncer's left leg was rolled up on by Packers' safety Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix and he stayed on the ground. Trainers came out to aid him and he limped off the field. Not long after being on the sideline, the cart was brought out to take Pouncey into the locker room. The 26-year-old is a two-time All Pro and four-time Pro Bowl center, including last season.
He was immediately ruled out for the game and was replaced by Cody Wallace. This story will be further updated when more information becomes available.
UPDATE: Steelers' coach Mike Tomlin's update on Pouncey, didn't deliver news many in Pittsburgh were hoping for.
Pouncey will be a candidate for the Injured Reserve/Designated to Return, though it will still depend on the severity of the damage in the ankle. If it's a broken bone, Pouncey will certainly miss at least the first 10 games of the season. Given how much weight offensive linemen play on and the recovery process, it's possible he could miss the entire regular season.
Now with Pouncey out for the foreseeable future, Wallace will slide in as the Steelers' center. He has some starting experience, though it's been a mxied bag of rough and adequate over the past two seasons. It will put more pressure on his linemantes to step up their play and help a teammate.