The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the Buffalo Bills Sunday night in their third preseason game of the 2012 season and below is a pregame look at the Steelers injury report heading into the game
Injured Reserve:
FB David Johnson (knee) – Johnson tore up his knee during the first drive two weeks ago and is done for the season. He has had surgery done and is on the Steelers injured reserve list for the season.
Active PUP:
OLB James Harrison (knee) – Harrison remains on the PUP list and is still recovering from his left knee procedure over a week ago. Harrison has said he is hopeful to be ready for the opener, but he certainly will miss the remaining preseason games.
OLB Jason Worilds (wrist) – Worilds remains a mystery as far as a return date goes as he continues to just work on the side following offseason wrist surgery. Worilds does not figure to play in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers on the short week and there are doubts that he will be ready for the Denver game. Could Worilds start the season on the Reserve PUP list? It is possible.
Working Back:
RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee) – The running back was removed from the PUP list last Friday and he has only reportedly been working in the individual drills portion of practices. Mendenhall will not pay at all during the preseason and he is unlikely to be ready for the opener against Denver as well. Tomlin listed the running back as a player that wouldn\’t even make the trip to Buffalo.
NT Casey Hampton (knee) – Hampton came off the Active PUP list with Mendenhall last Friday and he revealed this past week that he recently had his left elbow fixed in addition. Hampton is still eying the opener for his return. Although the veteran nose tackle did travel with the team to Buffalo, it would be shocking if he played.
ILB Stevenson Sylvester (knee) – Just prior to the game last week we received word that Sylvester had suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in one of his knees. Sylvester has since had the procedure done to repair it, but he will now be sidelined for the rest of the preseason as a result. Sylvester could possibly miss the first few weeks of the regular season as well. He did not travel with the team to Buffalo.
P Jeremy Kapinos (back) – The Steelers punter is still sidelined after having back surgery. While Kapinos is reportedly back kicking a football again, he will not be ready this week against the Bills. Kapinos has not punted at all during the preseason and has likely lost his job to undrafted rookie Drew Butler.
RB Jason Ford (hamstring) – The newly signed former Illinois running back suited up last week and actually looked good. Unfortunately he suffered a hamstring injury at some point and he was not able to practice this week. He did not travel to Buffalo.
