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Steelers activate Hampton and Mendenhall from PUP list
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Rashard Mendenhall runs the ball against the St. Louis Rams during a game at Heinz Field last year. -
Veteran Casey Hampton, left, talks with rookie Alameda Ta'amu during the Steelers' minicamp in June.
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The Steelers activated two more veterans off the physically unable to perform list but it could be quite some time before anyone sees one of them -- running back Rashard Mendenhall -- in a game.
He and nose tackle Casey Hampton both had surgery to repair torn ACL in January and both were activated off PUP today, joining another player who had the surgery in January, tackle Max Starks, on the active roster this week.
The move with Mendenhall came as a surprise because as recently as last week, general manager Kevin Colbert said he thought he would open the season on the PUP. Obviously, things changed.
"The trainers felt that he had progressed as far as he could in doing what they were doing," Colbert said, "and the kid felt confident that he was ready to take the next step. Now the next step is being able to practice, and where that leads to nobody knows at this point."
Anyone on the Reserve/PUP list to start the regular season cannot practice or play for the first six weeks of the season. After that, the team has three weeks to decide if it wants to put him on the 53-man roster or put him on injured reserve the rest of the season.
Players on PUP can work out but Mendenhall and the Steelers felt it was time for him to take the next step rather than wait for him to take it six weeks into the regular season. It's not likely he will be ready to play in September, but by doing this he could be ready to play much sooner than if he had to open on PUP.
"If you go on PUP you're out for six weeks, minimum," Colbert explained. "You can still only continue that same work. So he felt he was beyond that, the trainers felt he was beyond that so it was time to take that next step.
"Now whether he plays in those first six weeks we don't know, but obviously we feel there's a chance that could happen. Be it week five or week six, that could be a difference."
Colbert said he too was surprised at the progress Mendenhall had made. He said earlier he felt Hampton would be ready but with all the speed and cutting required of a running back it would take Mendenhall longer.
"Really, he has progressed. He's always been doing well but honestly I am surprised that all three of them with ACL [surgeries] are practicing.
"We will know more once he starts this, practicing and doing football work with his teammates, he'll have a better idea where he is and we'll have a better idea where he is."
Mendenhall's injury occurred in the final regular season game Jan. 1 at Cleveland and Hampton's in the playoff loss in Denver Jan. 8.
The move comes after several injuries have left the Steelers thin in the backfield. However, Colbert indicated it had nothing to do with that. Mendenhall's expected replacement as starting halfback, Isaac Redman, will not play Sunday because of a groin injury. John Clay was lost for the season with a leg injury, as was starting fullback David Johnson to a torn ACL and MCL.
Hampton, 34, enters his 12th season and has made five Pro Bowls. Mendenhall, 25, has been their starting halfback the past three seasons after they drafted him in the first round in 2008. He enters the final year of his contract.
First Published August 17, 2012 2:41 pm
