In July, center Dermontti Dawson vowed to never let it happen again. He would retire rather than go through what he did last season.
"When the legs go, I go," he said after arriving for his first day of training camp.
The right leg has gone, again, the victim of a hamstring pull in the second quarter of Sunday's game in Tennessee. Dawson, 35, used the words "popped" and "snapped" to describe the injury that could keep him out the rest of the season.
It will keep Dawson, possibly the best center to play in the NFL, out at least several games.
"I may be out for a few weeks, yeah," he said yesterday afternoon. "I don't know yet. I guess it depends on how fast it progresses and how bad it is. It's just sore more than anything."
Dawson missed nine full games and most of two others last season because of a hamstring pull to his right leg. He missed most of training camp with it and has been on the injury list all season with it.
He has not missed a start, but it popped while he was pass blocking in the second quarter. Yesterday, he said it felt the same way it did last year, but then he said: "I'm just hoping it's not a repeat of last year. I hope it's not the same as last year, not as severe."
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Dermontti Dawson (Andy Starnes, Post-Gazette) |
If it is, it's possible he could miss the final seven games of the season. Even if he does not play again, he has altered the promise he made to himself in July. He wants to play at least one more season.
"I'd like to get a year in the new stadium," Dawson said. "It's just unfortunate that it became an issue again, that it happened again."
The vow of retirement was "more frustration talking, I think, the last time," he said. "Because I was frustrated by it. I'm hoping it recovers quickly and I get back out there before the end of the year and just kind of go from there."
Until he does, Roger Duffy likely will take over at center. Tom Myslinski also can play the position. Duffy started nine games at center last season and played nearly all the snaps in two others. Last season, Dawson's hamstring was injured in the first quarter of an Oct. 17 game in Cincinnati. Dawson missed the rest of that game and six more before he tried to play Dec. 12 against Baltimore and lasted only three plays. He did not play again.
Before the injury last season, Dawson had started 170 consecutive games, dating to his rookie season in 1988.
"It's unfortunate," Duffy said, "but I'm really surprised he made it through eight games with the way he has been, the problem he has had in the past year or two. It's unfortunate but it's my turn to take the reins there, and I'll do the best I can."
Jerome Bettis had the second-lowest production of his career last season, but he was off to a good start in this one with Dawson at center. After being held to 42 yards on 13 carries in Tennessee, Bettis has 735 yards rushing, fifth in the AFC.
He believes the offense can overcome the loss of Dawson.
"Roger came in the middle part of the game and did well," Bettis said. "We were able to run the ball, and I don't think it will be a problem. Plus, Roger played the majority of last season. He's been starter for us.
"Maybe there will be a drop-off because we lose the best player at that position that probably ever played the game, but the production we don't feel will drop off in the running game or the passing game."
The passing game can't drop off much more because it already ranks No. 30. Only Cincinnati has produced fewer yards passing. The Steelers' running game is tied for eighth in the NFL.
Dawson thought he was having a good season before the injury. He had been held out of practices every Wednesday because of the soreness in his right hamstring. Last week, he missed practice Wednesday and Thursday and was listed as questionable with an injury to his groin.
"[The hamstring] popped pass-blocking," Dawson said. "I just got hit in the hip a little bit, my foot planted and twisted and it popped.
"I was hoping it was a dead issue, you know? Unfortunately, it just got hit the wrong way. I was engaged with somebody and I guess with the little torque it didn't take that much. It wasn't a real bad hit. You have a 300-pounder coming on you and then all of a sudden you get twisted and my foot planted and it just snapped. I didn't fall down, just got it twisted that way and it popped."
Dawson had said at training game that going through another injury-filled season likely would prompt him to retire. "If it becomes a recurring thing, I will. It would be best for the team to find someone to take my place. There wouldn't be any sense putting myself through the agony of rehab again."
Early this season, he said a new technique, deep-tissue massage, helped relieve the injury and allowed him to play. He has been having the daily treatment all season.
"I felt good, yeah, I've been playing well," he said. "It's just unfortunate this happened again, you know?"
Dawson may miss rest of season with hamstring injury 
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