At 30 years old, Max Starks is the Old Man on the Steelers' offensive line. No longer young, he’s also no longer a PUP now, either. The left tackle was taken off the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list Tuesday.
“He was ready to come off,” coach Mike Tomlin said.
It's unknown whether Starks will receive snaps during Sunday night’s preseason game against Indianapolis at Heinz Field. Tomlin said it depends how Starks looks over the course of the week. But Starks said earlier this week that if Sunday’s game was the season opener, he “would be pushing it" to play.
The fact that he's off PUP is good news for the Steelers considering it gives them another option at left tackle. Rookie OT Mike Adams, the team’s second-round pick, struggled in his preseason debut at Philadelphia, injuring his knee and allowing 2.5 sacks on 18 snaps. Second-year tackle Marcus Gilbert has worked with the first team at left tackle all week, and Ramon Foster moved from right guard to right tackle. Rookie David DeCastro has been at right guard, veteran Willie Colon at left guard and Maurkice Pouncey at center.
Starks, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the team’s playoff loss at Denver in January, suffered what was believed to be a career-threating neck injury two seasons ago. He re-signed with the team last October, and four days later he earned the start at left tackle, manning the position for 12 games in 2011.
“He’s going through a process of acclimation,” Tomlin said. “He was available. That’s why we took him off PUP.”
The Steelers also signed rookie running back Jason Ford, who initially agreed to a deal with the Houston Texans as an undrafted rookie free agent from the University of Illinois in May. To make room for Starks and Ford, the Steelers’ placed running back John Clay on the waived/injured list.
Running backs ease back into action: RB Jonathan Dwyer (hip) worked in a limited capacity during Tuesday’s practice, as did starting RB Isaac Redman, out with a groin injury. The good news, for the Steelers, is that there were no additional injuries on Tuesday.
“We’re able to get guys back, even in a limited capacity,” Tomlin said.
Peelle just wants to play: The Steelers were introduced to new TE Justin Peelle on Tuesday. Peelle, who spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers, was selected in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL Draft and also played in Atlanta (2008-10), Miami (2006-07) and San Diego. “I just want to show I can still play,” Peelle said. “I’ve been around awhile. I just want to contribute to the team and win.”
Peelle said he made his career blocking, which is good for the Steelers because they lost FB David Johnson to a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Thursday’s preseason opener at Philadelphia. Peelle has played fullback sparingly throughout his career, including in an emergency situation last year.
“It’s not the main thing I’ve done, but I’ve done it before,” Peelle said. “At this point in your career, you’re just looking to play and be part of something successful, which obviously this organization has done for years.”
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