Steelers make roster moves, activate DeCastro

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers make roster moves

Nov. 26,2012

Steelers Activate David DeCastro and Promote John Malecki to Active Roster; Place Marcus Gilbert on Reserve/Injured List and Release David Gilreath.

The Steelers have activated offensive guard David DeCastro from the Reserve/Injured; Designated to Return List and also promoted offensive lineman John Malecki to their active roster, the team announced today.

DeCastro was placed on the list after suffering a knee injury during Pittsburgh’s Week 3 preseason game at Buffalo. He was the Steelers’ first-round selection (24th overall) in this past year’s NFL Draft.

For the second time this season, the Steelers promoted Malecki to their active roster. Earlier this year prior to the team’s Week 7 game at Cincinnati, he was signed to Pittsburgh’s active roster. He was then released the following week and signed back to the practice squad. Malecki will wear No. 62.

The Steelers placed offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert on the Reserve/Injured List with an ankle injury. He started the first five games of the year before suffering the ankle injury against the Tennessee Titans (Week 5). He has not played since that matchup against the Titans.

The Steelers also released wide receiver David Gilreath, who was signed to the team’s active roster before the Week 10 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He was active for the past three games but did not record a catch.

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-make-roster-moves/d5118648-38aa-47c4-a457-d66af3c862b3?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twi tter[/URL]

[Jooser]

hmmmmm....., well I suppose that if DeCastro is ready to rock, then this is a good decision. If Adams isn't ready to go, then I suppose we could kick Foster out to RT and let DeCastro play his natural position at RG. Any word on Whiffy Colon's status?

[phillyesq]

What happened to Gilbert? There was no indication early on that his injury was potentially season ending...

[ikestops85]

What happened to Gilbert? There was no indication early on that his injury was potentially season ending...

I think he played his way out of a job.

[Jooser]

I think he played his way out of a job.

I tend to agree with that. He put enough other people on IR that they went ahead and put him there too. They need to keep the first rounder healthy this time.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

What happened to Gilbert? There was no indication early on that his injury was potentially season ending...

They determined he was too much of an injury risk to the other players on the team...

[NorthCoast]

I am looking at the bright side of the Gilbert IR, no chance for him to flop onto another lineman's legs and causing a season ending injury to an already depleted line.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Maybe Ben said he wouldn't come back unless they stuck Gilbert on IR.

[feltdizz]

What happened to Gilbert? There was no indication early on that his injury was potentially season ending...

Maybe DeCaStro gave the FO an ultimatum.

[fordfixer]

I Wish we could trade him to Baltimore

[RuthlessBurgher]

If Colon comes back this week but Adams does not, I'd say DeCastro starts at his natural position and Foster moves over to RT where he was surprisingly effective a few months ago.

Starks-Colon-Pouncey-DeCastro-Foster

If Adams comes back this week but Colon does not, then DeCastro could play out of his comfort zone at LG, but he should still be better than Legursky, who seems to be a disaster anywhere but at center and goalline fullback.

Starks-DeCastro-Pouncey-Foster-Adams

If neither Colon nor Adams comes back this week, I'd probably rather use Beachum inside rather than outside. Insert Beachum at Colon's spot (although #68 lining up at LG again gives me the heebie jeebies), then have DeCastro at RG and Foster at RT.

Starks-Beachum-Pouncey-DeCastro-Foster

I was the biggest DeCastro supporter in the world leading up to the draft, so I'm excited to see what the kid can do, especially now that we really need him with all of the OL injuries. If he does indeed play at his usual RG spot, there is no better "throw him into the fire" test by having him face off against Haloti Ngata right off the bat.

[steelz09]

I know DeCastro was activated but is he really healthy enough to play? Has he been practicing at all?

[DukieBoy]

Hope we don't rush Decastro back into service out of desperation. Same with Ben. Risk is not worth it.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I know DeCastro was activated but is he really healthy enough to play? Has he been practicing at all?

He returned to practice last week. At that point the team was granted a 3 week window in which they could evaluate him at practice, until they had to decide once and for all to either add him to the 53 man roster, or send him back to IR for the rest of the year. I guess they only needed 1 week of practice to determine that he's ready to rock.

[hawaiiansteel]

If Adams comes back this week but Colon does not, then DeCastro could play out of his comfort zone at LG, but he should still be better than Legursky, who seems to be a disaster anywhere but at center and goalline fullback.

Starks-DeCastro-Pouncey-Foster-Adams

in this scenario, I think Foster moves to LG where he has played before while DeCastro starts at RG:

Starks-Foster-Pouncey-DeCastro-Adams