Injury rules out Pittsburgh Steelers centre Maurkice Pouncey for Denver Browns game – NFL News
A day after Pittsburgh Steelers starting centre, Maurkice Pouncey, was placed as a questionable on the list of the players, who are doubtful for their tie against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, January 08, 2012; the player confirmed he will miss the game.
Pouncey missed the team’s practice throughout the past week said on Friday that he will not be able to make it to the Steelers’ weekend game due to his ankle injury.
He said that he was disappointed to not being able to recover timely enough to play their wild-card game, which stands as the most crucial to their hopes of reaching to Super Bowl event this year.
"I am very distraught about not being able to play in this game," Pouncey said. "Since I am unable to be on the front line grinding with my teammates I will be on the sidelines pushing them and hyping up the Steeler Nation. Go Steelers."
The team management, in the meantime, is considering bringing in centre, Doug Legursky, to start at the Pouncey place in the Broncos games. He has played at his position in a number of games in the past.
Legursky had missed the Steelers game against the Cleveland Browns in the closing week of the regular season of the National Football League (NFL) 2011 due to a shoulder injury.
He, however, joined his teammates for practice on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and will be starting at the centre position for the Steelers on the weekend.
Further, Legursky has also started at the right guard position three times, five times at left guard and two at the centre position and his flexibility gives more options to his side to get maximum of his game skills.
"It's no different for me. I practice each week as if I'll play multiple positions anyway, so it's not a problem. It's just a part of football," Legursky said. "Every year, it's something. As long as you stay focused on what you need to do to get the job
done, that won't be a problem."
The absence of Pouncey in their first playoff game does not bode well into the Steelers hopes of a win over the Broncos given that they are not sure about some of other players’ participation for the Sunday game.
They include the quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, despite that he confirmed that he will be playing the next game irrespective to his ankle injury. His availability will diffidently boost their chances for a victory.
Some of other players who are not cleared for the Steelers forthcoming game include their linebacker, James Harrison, who is nursing his ankle injury.
Harrison, along with Troy Polamalu with a calf injury, LaMarr Woodley with a hamstring, Jonathan Scott with back and Brett Keisel with groin injury is listed as a probable for the game.
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