Max Starks' rehab from an offseason ACL surgery is nearing completion, and the veteran left tackle should be able to return to the Steelers' pieced-together offensive line soon.
Starks injured his knee in the Steelers' overtime playoff loss to Denver, and has been on the physically unable to perform list. He's now off that list, meaning he's eligible to play. He still has more rehab work to do -- he won't participate in anything at training camp, nor will he play in this weekend's preseason game against Indianapolis -- but the lineman is getting there.
Pittsburgh had been playing second-year player Marcus Gilbert at left tackle a year after he started 13 games at right tackle, while the unproven Ramon Foster replaced Gilbert over at right tackle. With Starks back, the Steelers will look to shift Gilbert back to the right side with Starks reclaiming his spot starting at left tackle. Starks has been a mainstay of the Steelers' o-line since being drafted in 2004, starting most of the time, so his presence will be no surprise for anybody.
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