Isaac Seumalo left the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice early on Wednesday due to an injury, but it is not expected to derail his season.
The team’s veteran starting left guard, Seumalo suffered an apparent pectoral injury, according to an ESPN report. However, preliminary tests indicate that the injury is not very serious.
Seumalo being spotted leaving practice early initially did not ring alarm bells because as a 30-something veteran it is not uncommon for him to be assigned time off. But Seumalo three times over a four-season span between 2018-21 missed significant games because of injury. That includes sitting out the final three games in 2018 because of a pectoral injury.
Seumalo did, however, play in all 20 Philadelphia Eagles’ games during their run to the Super Bowl two years ago, and he played in all 18 (including playoffs) of the Steelers’ games last season — his first since signing a three-year, $24 million free-agent contract.
The only Steelers offensive snaps during which Seumalo was not the left guard last season came during a Week 13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in which Seumalo suffered a shoulder injury.
The Steelers open the season Sept. 8 at the Atlanta Falcons. Spencer Anderson and Mason McCormick would be the most likely candidates to replace Seumalo if he cannot start. The Steelers’ top backup on the interior offensive line, Nate Herbig, is out for the season after suffering a torn rotator cuff during a practice earlier this month.
This preseason, Anderson, a versatile seventh-round pick who was a rookie last year, mostly worked as a second-team guard. During training camp, McCormick, a fourth-round selection, primarily participated in drills as the left guard on the second team. Starting on Thursday, the Steelers players will be off for four days. They get back to practice on Monday in order to be ready for the season’s first game six days later.
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