Steelers May Not Get First-Round Pick David DeCastro Back Anytime Soon

The Pittsburgh Steelers lost first-round pick G David DeCastro during their second preseason game after he suffered a torn MCL, a dislocated kneecap and damage to his patellar tendon. The team was still hopeful that he would be able to return at some point during the season, but that idea appears to be a little over-optimsitic at this point.

Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writes that “optimism has tempered” regarding DeCastro’s return.

Ramon Foster has since taken over as the team’s right guard, but they were clearly hoping that DeCastro would have been an interior force for them this season. The Steelers actually doing a pretty decent job in pass-protecting this season, which had been a real weak spot in years past, but now they’re struggling to block for the run.

There’s still a chance that DeCastro could return later in the season, but as offensive line coach Sean Kugler puts it; “he better be mentally prepared.”