:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/710607/20120921_kkt_sj4_104.0.jpg)
Steelers' 2012 first-round pick David DeCastro continues his rehab from a preseason knee injury and now says he is pain free, in a report from Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The heralded guard prospect from Stanford suffered a nasty knee injury in a preseason game against Buffalo, crumpling to the turf after having his leg landed on in the end zone. DeCastro tore his MCL and dislocated his knee cap, and it was immediately feared he was done for the season.
But the Steelers opted not to put him on the full-season IR, with the hopes that he'd get back to the team in the second half of the season. Now, according to Kaboly's report, DeCastro is walking without a limp and not experiencing any pain. His rehab has consisted mostly of riding a stationary bike at the Steelers' facility.
The Steelers were the beneficiary of a new short-term injured reserve, which allows players to return after the eighth game of the season. He can start practicing even sooner than that, however, with the ability to re-join the team on Oct. 19.