It’s been a tough year plus for Steelers backup QB Bruce Gradkowski, as he missed all of last season which is why the black and gold inked Michael Vick.
Gradkowski it appears has another major setback he will have to overcome to play again, as reports say he has a sizable hamstring tear, and could miss time putting more of the Steelers backup QB situation in doubt.
ESPN says the injury was suffered during the teams’ preseason loss at Heinz Field to the Lions.
Landry Jones looks like he’s set as Ben Roethlisberger’s backup at QB, but as you know in the NFL, you better have more than two QB’s, as the Steelers found that out last season.
The team could put Gradkowski on injured reserve and go out and find another QB (Vick is available again if they want to go that route) or they could wait and see how bad the injury is and if can bounce back from it.
Dustin Vaughan is another QB that is in camp, but he’s never taken an NFL snap and the team can’t be excited about the prospect of having him have to take the field at anytime with his little track record.
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Berdj Joseph Rassam
August 15, 2016 at 10:30 pm
Too bad to hear that he has a tear.
DaveB.
August 16, 2016 at 5:06 am
Im afraid its time to start looking for a veteran backup quarterback . From shoulder surgery to now this , Gradkowski’s better days are behind him . In addition , from all accounts , he has not looked good at all in camp .
DrGeorge
August 16, 2016 at 8:35 am
Suppose this had been Ben? In case you haven’t looked, Ben is 34 now, one year older than Gradkowski. Given Ben’s history of concussions and his propensity to hold the ball too long, he has had a hard time getting through 16 games in any season. Which means Landry Jones or Dustin Vaughan — both nice young men with limited NFL experience — are now your 2nd and 3d QBs.
There are some positions in football where you can’t afford to be thin, and QB is at the top of the list. Injuries are inevitable in football at every position, but since the QB handles the ball on every play, injury at QB limits the entire offense. Smart coaches develop and retain solid QB backups.
Consider New England, where Cassel backed up Brady for years, even though he was capable of starting elsewhere. Ditto for Garappolo, a competent QB who will play the first four games this year while Brady sits. Garapollo is expected to win three of those games and possibly all four. Such depth doesn’t just happen; Belichick planned for it and developed it by drafting wisely and giving his backups meaningful snaps in practices and in games.
Now consider the Steelers again. If Ben R. were out for the first four games of this season, how many of those games would our backups win? The answer is obvious, isn’t it? Wonder why Tomlin hasn’t thought of that?
Dave B.
August 16, 2016 at 6:16 pm
Totally agree Dr . George . Its time the Steelers realized that the handwriting is on the wall . Ben is getting older and his days are numbered . Those are the cold hard facts . This team either through free agency or more likely a trade is going to have to bring in a veteran backup that has started in the NFL . Im sorry but I honestly dont think Landry Jones is the answer . Its going to have to be someone else .The Steelers have failed miserably in developing backup talent , knowing that Ben is now in his mid thirties and his days are numbered . It makes no sense .