Steelers NT Tyson Alualu suffers ankle fracture, likely to be placed on IR
The Pittsburgh Steelers 17-26 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders wasn’t the only bad news on Sunday--the team also lost NT Tyson Alualu for an “extended period of time” after suffering an ankle fracture--Coach T said.
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The injury occurred on the Raiders fourth offensive play from scrimmage--early in the first quarter.
This is a huge blow. The Steelers play a 3-4 base and are already without my 2020 PFWA 1st-team All-Pro selection DE Stephon Tuitt. You kick in Alualu into that equation and it calls for disaster.
Alualu makes everyone around him better. The nose tackle is responsible for occupying multiple blockers--freeing up the second-level backers. It’s a selfless position but one that Alualu was playing at an extremely high level after taking over for NT Javon Hargrave.
The Steelers are clearly short-handed. No one can replicate the production left by Alualu or Tuitt.
That instantly places more pressure on team captain DE Cam Heyward--being the last man standing; offenses will now key in on the 1st-team All-Pro. Alualu will now be sent to injured reserve (IR) opening up a roster spot for someone to be elevated to the active 53-man roster.
Below is the updated tracker of Steelers on IR and 16-team practice squad:
Injured Reserve (IR):
QB Joshua Dobbs
RB Anthony McFarland Jr. (undisclosed)
OT Zach Banner (ACL)
NT Tyson Alualu (fractured ankle)
DE Demarcus Christmas
DE Stephon Tuitt (mental health/overweight/knee injury)
Practice squad
16 player limit with one International player exemption
Players re-signed after being "released" by the team: RB Trey Edmunds, RB Jaylen Samuels, TE Kevin Radar, DE Henry Mondeaux
Claimed off waiver wire: None
Players signed after being "waived" by team: WR Rico Bussey, WR Cody White, OT Chaz Green, OT/OG John Leglue, CB Mark Gilbert, S Donovan Stiner
Players signed: WR Steven Sims, WR Tyler Vaughns, OG Malcolm Pridgeon, DE Daniel Archibong, OLB Derrek Tuszka, OLB Delontae Scott, SS Karl Joseph
What is an ankle fracture?
A partial or complete break in a bone
Severe fractures include the tibia (shin bone), fibula (calf bone) or both
Physical therapy requires the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
Should ORIF surgery be required (8-12 week recovery)
ORIF (Open Reduction Internal Fixation) surgery needed
With Alualu’s 2021 season in doubt, the team will now count on the trio of NT Isaiah Buggs, DE Henry Mondeaux, and DE Carlos Davis to be the next-man-up.
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