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Season Over Before it Begins for Right Guard Stapleton

Stapleton
Last week the Steelers were hopeful right guard Darnell Stapleton would be back and ready to go for the season. Let’s just say those plans have changed. And not for the good.

Monday the Steelers put their starting right guard from a season ago on the injured reserve list with a knee injury and along with that of course he will miss the season.

Stapleton first injured his left knee during the first week of training camp and had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage. It seemed that his recovery was going along OK, and even he said that he felt he woudl be back for the opener vs the Titans.

Today thought, coach Mike Tomlin lowered the boom, saying that Stapleton might need more surgery and he’s done for 2009. With Stapleton out, Trai Essex will begin the season at right guard.

The Steelers also cut wide receivers Martin Nance and Steven Black, safety Derrick Richardson and center Alex Stepanovich.

Matt Loede has been in the sports media for over 16 years, with experience covering the MLB, NBA, and NFL. On Sunday’s during football season, you can hear Matt on national networks like Fox Sports Radio, Associated Press, and others. Born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, Matt studies and talks football inside and out, and is anxious to share his thoughts and comments with readers on a daily basis.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. mark

    September 1, 2009 at 10:53 am

    Well, our first curve-ball of the season. It looks like Essex has played well in the preseason so the o-line has some continuity with him. Trai Essex has been a Steeler for 2 Super Bowls now but has hardly ever contributed. He has had a hard time getting into the line-up and I think Urbik will be starting sooner than later. Essex is one of those career back-ups that you must have on your team at all times, but he could never beat out Simmons or Stapleton at Guard or Colon and Starks at tackle. So you have to wonder what Trai is bringing to the table? Scary still is did it just make a vulnerable o-line even weaker?

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