Redman, Bell Injuries Open Door for Dwyer

It seemed for a brief while on Twitter today that I was almost afraid to scroll down my timeline. Every time that I did, there was another Pittsburgh Steeler with an injury being reported on from guys like Dale Lolley and Mark Kaboly. Isaac Redman and Le’Veon Bell were listed as ‘co-number ones’ at running back on this week’s depth chart. Unfortunately it was also these two who were the first to be injured today in Latrobe.

Redman was, according to some, knocked out by linebacker Larry Foote although one person attributed the hit to Lawrence Timmons. Either way, Redman left practice with what Mike Tomlin is calling a stinger.

Not long after, rookie Bell went to the ground and stayed there awhile. He has suffered an injury to the same knee that kept him out of last week’s preseason opener. According to Tomlin this is an MCL sprain which is worse than what he dealt with last week. I’m just guessing here but I really think the Steelers won’t play Bell until the final preseason game if at all. The knee has been troublesome for about three weeks now so why risk anything further?

The final big and least concerning injury was to the groin of rookie outside linebacker Jarvis Jones. It was deemed a mild strain.

For those of you who thought the Steelers would get through camp with few injuries you can forget that now. The NFL really is a league where the team with the best overall depth finds the most success. In this case, the injuries to Redman and especially Bell have left the door wide open now for Jonathan Dwyer to make the roster. I wrote earlier in the week that his luck may have run out but apparently not.

While I don’t agree with the sentiments of some others that the Steelers can win with Dwyer as the feature back, he will be needed if the injury to Bell is enough to keep him out for awhile. As we saw last year, a running game by committee is not going to work in Pittsburgh. If the Steelers enter the season with Redman and Dwyer carrying the load than I have serious doubts about the team’s chances.

Depth has already been challenged at cornerback, tight end and offensive line. Now we can add running backs to this dubious list.

Marc Uhlmann writes for and co-owns www.steelcityblitz.com. Follow him on Twitter @steeldad and follow the website at @SCBlitz. He can be heard Mondays on Trib-Live Radio at 4pm ET talking Steelers.