Steelers beat Packers, but lose Pouncey
Andrew Baugh
Pittsburgh’s training staff works on center Maurkice Pouncey during the second quarter of Sunday’s game against Green Bay at Heinz Field. Pouncey was rolled up and had to be taken off the field. The prognosis looks like Pouncey will be out for significant time.
Andrew Baugh
Steelers linebacker James Harrison (92) sacks Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during the second quarter of Sunday’s game at Heinz Field.
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers beat Green Bay, 24-19, Sunday but lost center Maurkice Pouncey for the foreseeable future.
Landry Jones completed 10 of 19 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, in leading the Steelers over the Packers. Pittsburgh overcame a 19-9 deficit to win for the first time this preseason.
But the bigger news from this game was the ankle injury suffered by Pouncey, the heart and soul of Pittsburgh’s offensive line.
The injury occurred at the end of a Le’Veon Ball run that gained five yards on second-and-3. As Bell was tackled, Pouncey’s left left got rolled up on by the tacklers.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said only that Pouncey’s ankle injury would require surgery and that it would be a while before he returns.
“It’s probably going to be surgical, but I don’t know the length of time he will be out,” Tomlin said postgame. “We will analyze that once he has the procedure done.”
The Post-Gazette reported that Pouncey’s ankle is broken and that his return this season would be contingent on what doctors find during surgery. He could be a candidate for a mid-season return from injured reserve.
Asked if the ankle was broken, Tomlin said, “I don’t know. The only details I have are what I have said already.”
Asked if Pouncey could be a potential IR return candidate, Tomlin, again, deferred to the doctors.
“I will give you information regarding that once we handle the surgical procedure,” he said.
Other injuries — to defensive end Stephon Tuitt and quarterback Bruce Gradkowski — did not appear to be as serious as the Pouncey injury. Tuitt suffered an ankle sprain and Gradkowski sustained a finger injury.
“I’m sure the next time we get together, I’ll be able to get you an update on on the status of Pouncey,” Tomlin added. “It’s part of the game and we don’t overanalyze it. It’s as much a part of the game as blocking and tackling. We will make the necessary adjustments and I expect the ball to keep rolling, because that’s the business we are in.”
Green Bay drew first blood, as Aaron Rodgers directed a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive with the opening kickoff. Eddie Lacy scored on a 7-yard run with 9:54 remaining in the first and James Stark ran for the conversion that made it 8-0 before the Steelers offense touched the ball.
Pittsburgh got on the board after a Jordan Berry punt was downed at the Packers’ 1-yard line by Antwon Blake. On a third-and-10 pass attempt, Rodgers was sacked in the end zone by James Harrison for a safety that cut Green Bay’s lead to 8-2 with 2:54 left in the first quarter.
It was Rodgers’ last play of the game. He completed 4-of-5 passes for 57 yards. Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey went down and out a few plays later with a left ankle injury suffered at the end of a Le’Veon Bell run.
The Steelers took the lead, thanks to a short field that resulted from a short Green Bay punt. Roethlisberger marched the team 51 yards on seven plays and hit Marcus Wheaton with a 5-yard TD pass 9:59 before halftime. Garrett Hartley’s conversion kick made Pittsburgh’s lead 9-8.
Bruce Gradkowski replaced Roethlisberger on Pittsburgh’s next possession. Roethlisberger completed 11 of 14 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. It was Gradkowski’s first action of the year, as he opened training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
Gradkowski seemed to be getting his feet under him, but gave up a fumble on a low snap during the two-minute drill. The snap bounced off Gradkowski’s lower leg and was recovered by Adrian Hubbard.
The Packers reclaimed the lead 12 seconds before halftime, when Scott Torzien passed to Richard Rodgers for 21 yards and a touchdown. Alonzo Harris’ two-point conversion run made it 16-9 Green Bay at the break.
Landry Jones opened the second half with an interception on a deep pass intended for Martavis Bryant. The pass was intercepted by Green Bay’s Damarious Randall.
Mason Crosby connected on a 55-yard field goal to increase Green Bay’s lead to 19-9 with 11:30 showing on the third quarter clock. The drive after the Jones interception covered 15 yards in eight plays.
Garrett Hartley converted a 46-yard field goal with 6:26 showing on the third quarter clock. The Steelers got 54 yards on the 55-yard drive on a pass play from Jones to Sammie Coates.
Pittsburgh got within a point, 19-18, with 10:09 remaining when Jones passed to Tyler Murphy for a 22-yard score. The conversion attempt failed on a pass play to Murphy. The drive covered 56 yards in five plays and included a 32-yard gain on one play. Jones passed to Shakim Phillips for 17 yards and Jones drew a pass interference penalty on the same play.
Jones passed to Phillips again from 20 yards out for the go-ahead touchdown with 4:26 remaining in the game. Earlier in the drive, Jones passed to Murphy for 25 and six and to Phillips for 10. His two-point conversion pass was intercepted to keep Pittsburgh’s lead at 24-19.