Steelers Notebook: Starks faces knee surgery today
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Either rookie Willie Colon or second-year player Trai Essex will make his first start at right tackle Sunday against the devouring defense of the Baltimore Ravens.
Audio commentary from Bill Cowher's Tuesday press conference:
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Max Starks, who held Carolina pass-rusher Julius Peppers at bay the past Sunday, will miss at least one game and possibly the rest of the regular season with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Starks is to have surgery today.
Definitely lost for the season with injuries from the Steelers' 37-3 victory in Carolina are linebacker Chad Brown and special teams player Chidi Iwuoma. Brown has a third-degree sprain of the MCL in his left knee. At age 36, it could spell the end to Brown's 14-year career that began with the Steelers and took flight in Seattle.
Iwuoma, re-signed Dec. 4 after he was released the day before the season began, had surgery on a dislocated wrist. He and Brown will go on injured reserve, and the Steelers will sign two players to take their place on the 53-man roster.
Starks' injury occurred in Carolina and may have happened during warm-ups. Nevertheless, he played the entire game and prevented Peppers, who has 11 sacks, from getting to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
"Max is a tough guy. He'll be missed," coach Bill Cowher said. "Those are big shoes, literally, to have to fill. But that's why Willie is here and Trai is here."
Essex started four games at left tackle last season as a rookie when starter Marvel Smith was injured, but he never has played on the right side with the Steelers. Colon, a fourth-round draft choice from Hofstra, has not dressed for a game this season.
The Ravens sacked Roethlisberger nine times when they beat the Steelers, 27-0, Nov. 26 in Baltimore.
"They really do a good job of disguising, bringing people from inside, from outside," Cowher said.
"They move around right to the snap count. You have to be on top of everything. You had better be on top of all the protections, the communication had better be there. We have to do a better job of that than the last time we went in there."
More injury updates
Free safety Ryan Clark is doubtful after his groin injury was aggravated in the game against Carolina. Rookie Anthony Smith likely will make his third consecutive start.
Two players are listed as questionable: strong safety Troy Polamalu, who has missed the past three games with a sprained MCL, and safety Mike Logan (hamstring).
Cowher listed four players as probable: Strong safety Tyrone Carter (concussion), center Jeff Hartings (knee), cornerback Bryant McFadden (shoulder) and linebacker Clint Kriewaldt (neck).
Quick hits
Santonio Holmes averages 10.3 yards on 25 punt returns. Last season, Antwaan Randle El averaged 10.2 yards on 44. Holmes' average is the team's best since Randle El averaged 12.0 yards in 2003. ... Hines Ward needs 155 yards to reach 1,000 yards receiving for the fifth time in the past six seasons. He has 61 receptions. He caught 69 passes for 975 last season.
First Published December 20, 2006 12:00 am
