SB Nation Pittsburgh - Chris Hoke and Trai Essex Back From Injury After Steelers Bye, Doug Legursky Could Challenge For Starting Gighttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48827/pitt-fv.png2010-10-06T12:05:39-04:00http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/rss/stream/14532692010-10-06T12:05:39-04:002010-10-06T12:05:39-04:00Chris Hoke and Trai Essex Back From Injury After Steelers Bye, Doug Legursky Could Challenge For Starting Gig
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<p>According to the Trib, nose tackle <span>Chris Hoke</span> and right guard <span>Trai Essex</span> should both <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_702857.html">return from injury</a> in time for Pittsburgh's home matchup with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.dawgsbynature.com/">Cleveland Browns</a> in Week 6. Essex had to leave Week 2's matchup against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/">Tennessee Titans</a> after spraining his ankle. Hoke suffered a sprained knee and sat out of last week's loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a>.</p>
<p>The bye comes at the perfect time for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a>, who are nursing their share of such bumps and bruises - not to mention <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2010/10/5/1732858/roethlisberger-pittsburgh-steelers-quarterback-bye-practice-brett-favre-hines-ward-colts-browns">the task of reintegrating</a> quarterback <span>Ben Roethlisberger</span> into the offense and the locker room.</p>
<p>Obviously, Hoke is a depth player, a rotation guy on the defensive line; starter <span>Casey Hampton</span> should be fully healthy after the bye, as well. The real story here is the sudden position battle between Essex and <span>Doug Legursky</span>, the undrafted center-turned-guard who performed admirably in Essex's absence. Here's Essex, when asked about competing for his job:</p>
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<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I'm going to come in as if I'm starting. I'd like to think you don't lose your starting job to injury.</span></p>
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<p>I suppose I'd <i>like </i>to think that, too. But if Essex loses his starting role to Legursky, it won't be solely because of injury. Essex's grasp on the starting job was never strong in the first place. You'll remember that in the preseason, the coaching staff was looking to start first-rounder <span>Maurkice Pouncey</span> at right guard before the rookie proved capable of handling center duties. If Legursky wins the job outright, it will be because Essex's injury provided a showcase for a player who was superior all along.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2010/10/6/1734349/hoke-trai-essex-injury-bye-steelers-roethlisberger-doug-legursky-hampton-pounceyitaintmeeverifso2010-10-02T17:31:05-04:002010-10-02T17:31:05-04:00Dennis Dixon Placed On Injured Reserve
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<p>A disappointing season for quarterback <span>Dennis Dixon</span> just got worse, as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10275/1092249-100.stm">placed him on injured reserve</a>. He’ll be out for the rest of the season. With the suspension of <span>Ben Roethlisberger</span> for the first four weeks of the season, Dixon had a chance to establish himself as a viable <span class="caps">NFL</span> starting quarterback, and perhaps earn a trade to a team who needed one. Instead, he went down with a torn meniscus, guaranteeing that he’d be out until after Roethlisberger got back. It was originally reported that he’d be out for four to six weeks, but instead he’s done until next year.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2010/10/2/1726666/dennis-dixon-out-for-season-ben-roethlisberger-steelers-quarterbackCharlie Wilmoth2010-09-22T20:37:41-04:002010-09-22T20:37:41-04:00Dixon To Begin Rehabilitation Process After Surgery On Wednesday
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<p>Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee on Wednesday.<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5604266&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines" target="new"> According to ESPN’s <span class="caps">NFL</span> insider Adam Scheffer</a>, Dixon is expected to be out for at least six weeks while he recovers and rehabilitates from the injury. Thankfully the surgery seems to have been a success. Steeler Nation wishes Dixon a full and speedy recovery!</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/9/22/1705136/dennis-dixon-knee-injury-six-weeks-recovery-steelers-quarterback-situationMichael Bean2010-09-22T08:47:59-04:002010-09-22T08:47:59-04:00Max Starks Will Play Against the Buccaneers In Week 3
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<p>No matter who starts on Sunday in Dennis Dixon’s stead — Byron Leftwich who is trying to quickly rehab an injured knee, or old-timer Charlie Batch, who received very few first-team reps this offseason — the offense will get a much-needed shot in the arm with <a href="http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/09/20/steelers-ot-max-starks-will-return-to-protect-byron-leftwich-vs/">the return of their starting left tackle</a>, Max Starks.</p>
<p>Starks suffered a low ankle sprain that was originally expected to keep him out through the team’s Week 5 bye, however, the tackle’s leg has healed much more quickly than the team could have hoped for.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/9/22/1703709/max-starks-injury-steelers-buccaneers-pittsburgh-tampa-bay-byron-leftwich-charlie-batchitaintmeeverifso2010-09-21T19:23:10-04:002010-09-21T19:23:10-04:00Dixon To Undergo Surgery To Repair Torn Meniscus, Out Indefnitely
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<p>Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dennis Dixon had been hoping that his knee injury wasn’t too serious and that he might be able to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday. It wasn’t meant to be. <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5izli_0q2wbDKBPymQi4qQkuE3I7AD9ICEKSG0" target="new">Dixon will undergo surgery on Wednesday</a> to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee, and consequently is expected to miss the remainder of the 2010 season.</p>
<p>Terrible news for the young man, as it was plainly obvious how badly he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to play. The Steelers now turn to either Charlie Batch or recently re-signed Byron Leftwich to lead them in Week 3. Leftwich, of course, is coming off a knee injury of his own, sustained during the team’s last preseason game against the Carolina Panthers. Leftwich is practicing all week, but how his knee holds up will go a long way towards determining who will line up under center to begin the game according to head coach Mike Tomlin.</p>
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<p>“You’ve got to say Charlie’s in the pole position because he’s got a clean bill of health,” Tomlin said Tuesday.</p>
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<p>Stay tuned for more updates and analysis all week here and on <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com" target="new">Behind the Steel Curtain</a>.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/9/21/1702913/dixon-knee-injury-surgery-out-for-season-pittsburgh-steelers-qb-situationMichael Bean2010-09-21T15:16:54-04:002010-09-21T15:16:54-04:00Steelers Won't Sign Extra Quarterback Despite Dennis Dixon Injury
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<p>The Post-Gazette <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10264/1089207-100.stm">reports</a> that the Steelers will not sign another quarterback despite only having one healthy one left (Charlie Batch). The Steelers have kicked the tires on Levi Brown and former <span class="caps">WVU</span> quarterback Jarrett Brown, but are unlikely to sign either. This suggests the team is confident that Byron Leftwich will be healthy enough to play if something happens to Batch on Sunday against the Bucs.</p>
<p>Pete Wilmoth has more on the Steelers’ quarterback situation <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/9/20/1700771/dennis-dixon-injury-byron-leftwich-charlie-batch-ben-roethlisberger-steelers-quarterback-buccaneers">here</a>.</p>
<p>The P-G also reports that Max Starks and Casey Hampton are likely to play against Tampa Bay.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/9/21/1702322/steelers-quarterback-dennis-dixon-byron-leftwich-charlie-batchCharlie Wilmoth2010-09-17T19:28:53-04:002010-09-17T19:28:53-04:00Two Key Veterans To Sit Out Sunday
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<p>All signs pointed to this throughout the week, but it’s still discouraging to receive confirmation that a<a target="new" href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2010/9/17/1695523/max-starks-and-casey-hampton-out"> pair of veterans will miss the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans</a>. Offensive tackle Max Starks will sit this one out with an ankle sprained suffered last Sunday against the Falcons. Casey Hampton, who also left last Sunday’s game, is sidelined with a hamstring injury that kept him out of practice all week.</p>
<p>Hopefully the two key players will be ready to go next week when the Steelers travel to Tampa Bay to take on Buccaneers.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/9/17/1695551/nfl-week-two-injury-report-pittsburgh-steelers-starks-hampton-ruled-outMichael Bean2010-09-16T19:13:56-04:002010-09-16T19:13:56-04:00Notable Steelers Players Miss Thursday Practice
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<p>The following players <a target="new" href="http://twitter.com/Ken_Laird/status/24703511435">sat out Thursday’s practice session</a>:</p>
<p>OT Max Starks (ankle)<br> NT Casey Hampton (hamstring)<br> WR Emmanuel Sanders (quadricep)<br> <span class="caps">OLB</span> Jason Worilds (shoulder)<br> CB Bryan McFadden (groin)</p>
<p>I previously had not read anything about McFadden being dinged up. After his 11 tackle performance against the Falcons, it would be a shame if he were unable to play or were slowed down considerably.<a target="new" href="http://twitter.com/Ken_Laird/status/24703544237"> According to Ken Laird, though</a>, the team might just be giving the veteran cornerback an extra day off this week in hopes of him being as close to full strength as possible come Sunday.</p>
https://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/2010/9/16/1693520/nfl-injury-report-week-two-notable-steelers-players-miss-practiceMichael Bean