Pouncey Thumb Surgery - not ruled out vs Dallas; Green may play; Dupree will practice

[RuthlessBurgher]

Maurkice Pouncey had thumb surgery, Steelers not ruling him out this week

Posted by Josh Alper on November 8, 2016, 12:50 PM EST

Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey left last Sunday’s loss to the Ravens after dislocating his right thumb and coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he’s already had surgery on the injured digit.

Tomlin did not rule Pouncey out of this week’s game against the Cowboys, however. He said, via Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that Pouncey will not practice on Wednesday and that the team will take it day-to-day from there to determine his status for the game.

The injury is to Pouncey’s snapping hand but Tomlin said he believes that the center will be able to snap the ball to Ben Roethlisberger, so his ability to play may be an issue of pain tolerance. B.J. Finney replaced Pouncey against the Ravens.

Tomlin also said that tight end Ladarius Green has a chance to play this week in what would be his Steelers debut and that the team will designated linebacker Bud Dupree as their player to return from injured reserve. Dupree, who went on I.R. with a groin injury, will practice on Wednesday.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/11/08/maurkice-pouncey-had-thumb-surgery-steelers-not-ruling-him-out-this-week/

[RuthlessBurgher]

Tomlin optimistic about Green, Bud
Posted 29 minutes ago

Bob Labriola
Steelers.com

Coach Mike Tomlin talked about the potential return of both Green and Dupree.

Two of the issues the Steelers are having at this point of the 2016 season are mounting a consistent pass rush, and finding someone besides Antonio Brown who can become a factor in the passing attack. Maybe that help is on the way – at some point – from a couple of players who are working their way off lists.

A list-guy is the way Coach Mike Tomlin refers to a player whose injury ends up getting him put onto one of the NFL’s reserve lists, and that description fits both Ladarius Green and Bud Dupree.

Green, the tight end who was the gem of the team’s free agent class, came off the physically unable to perform list last week, and Tomlin said today that Bud Dupree, currently on the injured reserve list and potentially a candidate to rejoin the active roster under the designated-to-return provision, will practice with the team tomorrow.

“We’ll start the process with Bud Dupree this week in terms of practicing,” said Tomlin during his weekly news conference at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. “He has been working a lot on the perimeter, and we’ll start the process with him this week. (Dupree and Green) will get going, in terms of getting up to speed and being football-ready.”

Both Green and Dupree are on separate 21-day clocks, which means the Steelers have 21 days to practice the two players before having to make a final decision on each, with that decision being either adding them to the 53-man roster or placing them on injured reserve, with the latter move then ending their 2016 seasons.

“We’ll let the quality of his practice and overall health be a determinant in that area,” said Tomlin about Dupree, “but certainly, we anticipate him coming back and being a component and a factor on our football team this year.”

Tomlin also expressed optimism about Green, and during his news conference he explained why he felt that way.

“Because he has done some nice things,” said Tomlin about Green, who started practicing with the team the week of the game against the Ravens in Baltimore. “He has proven his health. He’s in the process of proving his overall level of conditioning. Obviously a guy who has missed training camp and things of that nature, we have to smart about how we utilize him, if we utilize him, and what we ask him to do. All of those are components of the equation as we sort through his potential availability.”

But it wouldn’t be a Tomlin news conference without some potentially bad news on the injury front, and today it had to do with Maurkice Pouncey.

Pouncey left the game against the Ravens in the first half with what was termed a dislocated finger. After being treated in the locker room, he returned and played for a bit before leaving the game for good. Tomlin said today that Pouncey dislocated a thumb, and he underwent a surgical procedure yesterday to have it fixed.

“He’s going to have the ability to snap,” said Tomlin. “We’re just going to give it a couple of days to calm down from the procedure, and then we’ll see how functional he is on Thursday or Friday. You should just anticipate him not participating Wednesday, and then we’ll take it day-by-day.”

TOMLIN’S INJURY UPDATE

“We had several guys come back, it was their first time at extended action against Baltimore. Guys like Marcus Gilbert and Cam Heyward. There were no negative repercussions in terms of the participation from those guys.

“There were some long-term guys who have been working their way back from injury. Ladarius Green really had a good week last week, and we’ll see where his participation takes us this week; he’ll have an opportunity for consideration this week if all goes well.

“Some in-game injuries: Darrius Heyward-Bey has a foot sprain. He’s getting evaluated. I don’t have the latest update today. Again, we’ll let his practice participation be our guide, or even whether he’s available to practice. Jordan Dangerfield sustained a groin injury in-game. He’s down getting evaluated right now, and we’ll know more about him tomorrow. Maurkice Pouncey had a surgical procedure to fix his dislocated thumb. In all likelihood, it’s going to table him at the early portions of the week, but he’ll have an opportunity to practice as we push toward Thursday and Friday – particularly Friday – and we’ll see where that participation takes us in terms of game availability.

“DeAngelo Williams has been dealing with a knee injury, and we’re having that knee evaluated today and we’ll see where that takes us in terms of his practice participation. I would imagine Ben (Roethlisberger) could be limited some. I haven’t seen him today. Coming back and getting back into playing form after missing some time with his knee (injury).”

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Tomlin-optimistic-about-Green-Bud/1c7c7721-3277-429f-a5d0-1131d787d4b8

[RuthlessBurgher]

Bud Dupree resumes practicing, hoping for Week 11 return
Posted by Darin Gantt on November 10, 2016, 9:25 AM EST

Bud Dupree hasn’t made the impact he or the Steelers were hoping for so far. But he’s at least back on the practice field.

Via Ralph Paulk of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the 2015 first-rounder returned to the practice field Wednesday, as he begins the process of coming back from groin surgery.

The Steelers used their one designated for return slot on the outside linebacker, who had groin surgery and missed the entire preseason. He knows he won’t be ready to play this week against the Cowboys but hopes he can get back for the Week 11 game against the Browns.

“I did a couple of things to get back into the groove,” Dupree said. “Each day I’ll do more, but I’m excited to be back on the field.”

The Steelers could use any shot of energy they can find on defense, as they’ve struggled to get off the field even against some less-than-spectacular offenses.

Dupree had 4.0 sacks as a rookie, so he’d add some needed rush behind James Harrison and Jarvis Jones. As a team, they have just 11.0 sacks, and Harrison had a pair of those last week.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/11/10/bud-dupree-resumes-practicing-hoping-for-week-11-return/

[RuthlessBurgher]

Week 10 Injury Report (Cowboys)
Posted 19 hours ago

A look at player injuries and practice participation for Week 10.

Here is the current injury report for the Steelers' Week 10 game vs. Dallas.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

STEELERS: DID NOT PARTICIPATE
S Jordan Dangerfield (Groin)
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (Foot)
C Maurkice Pouncey (Thumb)
RB DeAngelo Williams (Knee)

COWBOYS: DID NOT PARTICIPATE
S Barry Church (Forearm)
CB Morris Claiborne (Groin)
G Ronald Leary (Concussion)
T Tyron Smith (Back)

STEELERS: LIMITED PARTICIPATION
WR Sammie Coates (Finger)

COWBOYS: LIMITED PARTICIPATION
DE Ryan Davis (Hamstring)
T Chaz Green (Foot)
DE DeMarcus Lawrence

STEELERS: FULL PARTICIPATION
QB Ben Roethlisberger (Knee)

COWBOYS: FULL PARTICIPATION
WR Dez Bryant (Knee)
QB Tony Romo (Back)

http://www.steelers.com/news/injuryreport/article-1/Week-10-Injury-Report-Cowboys/3b85f978-558e-4bc1-9b9e-b94ef30a1f80

[SteelBucks]

Week 10 Injury Report (Cowboys)
Posted 19 hours ago

A look at player injuries and practice participation for Week 10.

Here is the current injury report for the Steelers' Week 10 game vs. Dallas.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

STEELERS: DID NOT PARTICIPATE
S Jordan Dangerfield (Groin)
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (Foot)
C Maurkice Pouncey (Thumb)
RB DeAngelo Williams (Knee)

Heard DeAngelo Williams had knee surgery today. Could miss 4-6 weeks. I hope Bell stays healthy.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Heard DeAngelo Williams had knee surgery today. Could miss 4-6 weeks. I hope Bell stays healthy.

What???

Is that why he didn't play much last week?

[Oviedo]

What???

Is that why he didn't play much last week?

I'm sure that had nothing to do with why he din't play. The experts have already stated that Tomlin and Haley are idiots and can't coach,are too conservative,etc.

[Shoe]

Pouncey should be getting way more credit for his toughness. People lump him with Shazier and Bell. I do think Bell is a tough guy too BTW. But Pouncey dislocated and had his thumb surgically repaired--and he's playing Sunday! All I see is people on social media saying we should cut him loose, etc.

[squidkid]

I'm sure that had nothing to do with why he din't play. The experts have already stated that Tomlin and Haley are idiots and can't coach,are too conservative,etc.

tomlins playoff record without cowhers players prove that.

[Eich]

Pouncey should be getting way more credit for his toughness. People lump him with Shazier and Bell. I do think Bell is a tough guy too BTW. But Pouncey dislocated and had his thumb surgically repaired--and he's playing Sunday! All I see is people on social media saying we should cut him loose, etc.

Is he tough for playing through injury? or too injury-prone? Bad luck or just not durable? Whatever it is, I think people calling for cutting him loose are just tired of seeing him injured.

[RuthlessBurgher]

It's still wait and see on Dupree
Posted 21 hours ago

By Mike Prisuta

Steelers contemplating whether to activate linebacker for Browns game.

THIS BUD’S IN VIEW: Linebacker Bud Dupree is ready to play but has yet to be given the go-ahead to do so on Sunday in Cleveland.

“I’m good,” said Dupree, who is waiting to come off the Reserve Injured/Designated For Return list.

Defensive coordinator Keith Butler has liked what he’s seen from Dupree at practice this week.

“He did some stuff today and looked good doing it,” Butler said.

As for whether Dupree is ready to play against the Browns, “That’s not up to me,” Butler continued. “It’s up to the head man (head coach Mike Tomlin). The head man always decides on those type of injuries and when they come back, so I’ll leave that up to him.

“There’s a double-whammy. This is (Dupree’s) second year in the league. This is not his fifth year or sixth year in the league where he can come back and automatically know everything that’s going on. He’s still in a learning situation. We’ll have to see as we go with him.”

Butler said he hasn’t contemplated how the Steelers might deploy five outside linebackers upon Dupree’s return.

“I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Butler said. “I’m not worried about it right now. I’m more worried about trying to win a football game. Everybody’s interested in Bud coming back, as I am. But at the same time we gotta work with the guys who are going to play on Sunday and try to win a football game, that’s primary.”

HIM AGAIN: Running back Le’Veon Bell saw a lot of linebacker Jamie Collins when the Steelers played the Patriots on Oct. 23.

Now that Collins has taken up residence in Cleveland after being traded by New England, Bell anticipates seeing a lot of Collins again.

“I definitely think I will,” Bell said. “They probably saw the film of when we played the Patriots of how he covered me and things like that. I’ll see a lot of him.”

Bell had 21 carries for 81 yards rushing and 10 catches for 68 yards receiving the first time out against Collins.

“He’s a good ’backer, you have to give him his credit,” Bell said. “He’s definitely a good player. It’s going to be good going against him again.”

JUST A LITTLE BIT: It’s not just the defense that will have to compensate for the loss of defensive end Cam Heyward, center Maurkice Pouncey maintained.

“I think the whole team, everybody has to step up just a little bit. When injuries like that happen to guys who are so accountable and leaders on this team, somebody has to pick up the torch and run with it. Everybody has to do just a little bit more on this football team.

That can happen, Pouncey said, by “just being more accountable, man.

“You have mistakes in a game, that’s going to happen no matter what,” Pouncey added. “If you can just clean up one mistake in the game then that’s doing your part.”

Pouncey said he’s confident the Steelers will come up with a bounce-back performance against the Browns.

“I always feel confident, man,” Pouncey said. “I love this football team. I know this football team will come to play.”

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Its-still-wait-and-see-on-Dupree/de766ee2-9afb-42cb-bf7e-d3858de967c0

[RuthlessBurgher]

A Bud Dupree sighting as we close out the first quarter up 14-0 at Indy. Welcome back, Bud!