Rashard Mendenhall injury: Steelers RB out, Jonathan Dwyer expected to start

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall will not play in the team's Week 8 matchup with the Washington Redskins, according to Jason La Canfora. In his place, Jonathan Dwyer will get his second straight start.

Mendenhall left the team's Week 6 game against the Tennessee Titans with an Achilles injury after just one carry. He sat out Week 7, and did not practice at all this week. La Canfora expects Mendenhall could return for Week 9, when the Steelers take on the New York Giants.

Jonathan Dwyer filled in admirably last week. The former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket ran for 122 yards on 17 carries. Dwyer was selected in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, but has never gotten a chance at full-time duties.

This week's matchup against the Redskins could be tough for Dwyer. Washington is seventh-best in the league against the run, allowing just 85.1 rushing yards per game.

This story was originally published on SBNation.com.