Pittsburgh Steelers aim replacing David Johnson, out for season with ACL – NFL News
It was not just rookie left tackle Mike Adams who suffered an injury scare in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, fullback David Johnson has met an even worse fate as the team confirmed
that he has received a significant knee injury blow and may well be out of the side for the rest of the season.
Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed earlier reports that David had suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), adding it is a “significant knee injury.” Although the official did not elaborate in clear terms if the player is surely out of the
squad for the entire season, some sections of media earlier claimed he is well on the course.
It will be the most likely case given that ACL injuries consume a lengthy period of time to heal and rehab. Also, the recovery process carries risks of certain setbacks including reoccurrence of injury or soreness on the knee.
This nevertheless is not a good development for Steelers as the player’s absence is going to leave a void at fullback. The team at present have fullback Will Johnson as only alternative option, and might soon be out in the market looking
for David’s replacement.
David’s flexibility of playing at fullback and tight end with equal efficiency is the particular missing point for the coach. He speaks higher of the player’s versatility of skills, and has often made effective use of it. Mike in an interview
to CBSSports.com recently said of the player:
"I'm not ready to say Johnson is exclusively a fullback. This guy's had several years with us exclusively as a tight end. We made a commitment to work him in the spring and the early portions of training camp as a fullback to give him
that exposure, but we also found opportunities to play him at tight end, such as in tight end-vs.-outside linebacker (drills)."
The coach, however, did not elaborate what alternative steps he is going to take to fill the void created by David's ousting, but he is expected to make the choice soon.
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